Topline
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Saturday he faces a “long road” to recovery but is overwhelmed with the support and love he has received in the past few days, in his first social media post since his shocking collapse and cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.
Key Facts
In an Instagram post on Saturday evening, Hamlin said “When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much,” adding that the love he has received has been overwhelming.
Hamlin also noted that he was facing a “long road” to recovery as he urged his fans and supporters to “keep praying for me!”
One of the images included in his Instagram post is a quote from the doctor telling him he had won the “game of life” after Hamlin asked if the Bills won on Monday.
In a later post on Twitter, Hamlin once again thanked people for sending him love and said “No matter race or religion everybody coming together in prayer!”
What To Watch For
The Bills are scheduled to take the field for the first time since Hamlin’s collapse and cardiac arrest on Sunday as they take on the New England Patriots in a home game. The team is expected to honor Hamlin during the game by wearing a special patch with his number 3 on their jerseys. The number three on the 30-yard line will also be specially painted in honor of Hamlin. All teams playing on Sunday—the final day of the regular season—will also wear T-shirts saying “Love for Damar 3” while warming up before their games.
Key Background
Hamlin has spent the last week recovering in the hospital after collapsing on the field during Monday’s game. Hamlin’s cardiac arrest took place following a hit during what appeared to be a routine tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. First responders managed to restore his heartbeat on the field after several minutes of CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Hamlin was eventually taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. On Friday morning, Bills announced that Hamlin’s breathing tube had been removed overnight and he was able to speak to his family and address his teammate via Facetime.
Further Reading
‘Love You Boys’: Damar Hamlin Speaks To Teammates Days After Suffering Cardiac Arrest At Bills Game (Forbes)