Damar Hamlin Leaves Hospital After Cardiac Arrest Recovery Spanning Over A Week

Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills player, has been discharged from a Buffalo medical center, his team announced on Wednesday. This comes after more than a week of hospitalization due to cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game earlier this month.

The 24-year-old safety had been showing physical improvement leading up to his release from Buffalo General Medical Center, according to hospital officials.

“We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills,” Dr. Jamie Nadler, the physician overseeing Hamlin’s care, stated in a statement released by the Bills on Twitter.

Initially hospitalized in Cincinnati when his heart suddenly stopped after a tackle during a game against the Bengals on January 2, Hamlin was transferred to the Buffalo facility on Monday as his condition had improved enough to allow the move.

Doctors at the Buffalo hospital were focused on determining why Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, Kaleida Health, the group of hospitals that includes the Buffalo medical center, explained before his discharge.

This included assessing whether pre-existing conditions played a role in the event, which shocked many and prompted a massive outpouring of support for the second-year NFL player.

Hamlin underwent a comprehensive medical evaluation on Tuesday, including a series of cardiac, neurological, and vascular tests, the Bills announced on Twitter.

The exact cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest has not been publicly disclosed. “Special thank-you to Buffalo General it’s been nothing but love since arrival! Keep me in y’all prayers please!” Hamlin tweeted on Tuesday.

Deciding when to return to the team during his recovery will be up to Hamlin, Bills coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday.

“Grateful first and foremost that he is home with his parents and his brother, which is great,” McDermott told reporters as the Bills prepared to host the Miami Dolphins for a playoff game on Sunday. No timeline for Hamlin’s return to professional football has been announced.

“We’ll leave (when he’ll be around the team) up to him. His health is first and foremost in our mind, and when he feels ready, we will welcome him back,” McDermott said.

While in critical condition in Cincinnati, Hamlin was sedated and on a ventilator for days. On Friday morning, the breathing tube was removed, and Hamlin began walking with some help by that afternoon, his doctors reported on Monday.

The healthcare team focused on stabilizing Hamlin and upgraded his condition on Monday because his organ systems were stable and he no longer required intensive nursing or respiratory therapy, according to his doctors.

“He’s certainly on what we consider a very normal to even accelerated trajectory from the life-threatening event that he underwent,” Dr. Timothy Pritts, chief of surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, noted earlier this week. “He’s making great progress.”

Normal recovery from cardiac arrest can take weeks to months, Pritts said on Monday. Hamlin has been surpassing that timeline at each stage and is neurologically intact.

Swift action was crucial in saving Hamlin’s life. When Hamlin collapsed seconds after an open-field tackle against a Bengals wide receiver, medical personnel rushed onto the field and administered CPR quickly, which was vital in saving his life.

Hamlin’s heart had stopped, and medical responders revived it twice before putting him into an ambulance and transporting him to the hospital.

The immediate actions of medical personnel were critical not only in saving his life but also in preserving his neurological function, Pritts said.

The terrifying scene of Hamlin suddenly collapsing after standing up following the tackle deeply unsettled his teammates, the other players, and millions of fans watching.

The game was initially postponed and later canceled by the NFL, a decision several former football players said indicated a shift towards prioritizing players’ mental and physical health.

Now, the Bills organization is encouraging people to learn the critical, life-saving skill of administering CPR.

The team has pledged support for resources including CPR certifications, automated external defibrillator units, and guidance for developing cardiac emergency response plans within the Buffalo community, according to a statement.

“We encourage all our fans to continue showing your support and take the next step by obtaining CPR certification,” the Bills said.