Bills safety Damar Hamlin has returned home to Buffalo after nearly a week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center following a Week 17 matchup against the Bengals where he went into cardiac arrest, doctors said Monday. monday.
Dr. William A. Knight told reporters that he accompanied Hamlin to the airport Monday morning, adding that sophomore insurance was «fine» and that he was «beginning the next stage of his recovery.»
Buffalo Bills fans hold signs in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)
«We shared last time with you that our ultimate goal was to bring Damar back home to his amazing family and the broader Buffalo family. Well, Dr. [Timothy] Pritts and I are thrilled and proud on behalf of UC to inform you that Damar Hamlin has been released and returned to Buffalo,» said Dr. Knight.
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«He landed safely and is doing as well as anyone who has been through what he went through last week and certainly after flying on a plane. He will be observed and monitored to ensure there is no impact on the flight from his condition.» Or in his lungs.»
Hamlin has not returned home yet, but is under the care of another hospital in Buffalo. Dr. Knight noted that since last week, Hamlin has reached «key milestones» in his recovery journey, which included getting him off the ventilator.
Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills after a game against the Tennessee Titans at Highmark Stadium on September 19, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)
He has been in physical and occupational therapy, walking around the unit, tolerating a regular diet, meeting with his family and many members of the care team who wanted to check on him, all to get him to this point where he could be safely returned to Buffalo.
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Hamlin took to social media after the news conference to thank the medical staff who treated him at UC Medical Center and his new medical team at Buffalo General Medical Center.
«Grateful for the amazing care I received at UCMC. Happy to be back in Buffalo. The doctors and nurses at Buffalo General have already made me feel at home!
The doctors added that Hamlin will continue to undergo tests to determine the cause of his injury and «treat any pathology that is found.»
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Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a missed Pittsburgh Steelers field goal during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)
Hamlin was honored in a variety of ways throughout the league over the weekend, but the biggest moment occurred at the kickoff of Sunday’s game between the Bills and the New England Patriots when Bills running back Nyheim Hines hurled he scored a 96-yard touchdown run.