Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin appears 'neurologically intact' after cardiac arrest on field

ABC ^ | Jan. 5, 2023 | Alex Perez, Whitney Lloyd, and Meredith Deliso

[FamiliarFace]

CINCINNATI -- Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is showing "remarkable improvement" after collapsing from cardiac arrest Monday night during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the team said Thursday morning.

"Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the team said in a statement on Twitter. "While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lung continue to heal and he is making steady progress."

Hamlin, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care unit at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The second-year safety from the University of Pittsburgh collapsed during the Monday Night Football game against the Bengals after making a tackle in the first quarter.

~Snip~

Hamlin's teammate, fellow defensive back Kaiir Elam, also tweeted Thursday morning that Hamlin was "doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement."

Doctors had told family members Wednesday morning that Hamlin's condition was moving in a "positive direction," according to Hamlin family spokesperson Jordon Rooney.

Rooney told ABC News he could not qualify or elaborate on what "positive direction" meant, but said doctors are seeing the progress they are looking for.

The Bills also confirmed that Hamlin has shown "signs of improvement" Tuesday and overnight.

~Snip~

In an interview with ABC News, Rooney also clarified statements made by Hamlin's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, who said Tuesday that Hamlin had to be resuscitated twice -- on the field and at the hospital. Rooney said that was a misunderstanding and that Hamlin was not resuscitated more than once.

Responding to reports that the defibrillator used on Hamlin malfunctioned, Rooney said those reports were incorrect and that all of the medical equipment worked properly.

[FamiliarFace]

Yes, it would be. My guess is that it won’t be much, but you never know. Maybe he had an out of body experience. Continuing my prayers.

[larrytown]

That seems to be the missing detail - is he breathing on his own yet? Is he ‘neurologically intact’ enough to breathe?

[lepton]

Other reports are that he is awake, and able to interact with family.

[alexander_busek]

"While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lung[s] continue to heal and he is making steady progress."

That's one thing that I certainly never want to hear about myself!

Like being told that my once-peaceful neighborhood has been declared a "Demilitarized Zone," or that the local swimming pool is now "Chlamydia-free."

"Gee, thanks!"

Regards,

[FamiliarFace]

It’s the best news I’ve heard since it happened. I also know he could have some setbacks soon. Don’t they usually say the first 72 hours are critical? Maybe that’s only for head injuries.

[RatRipper]

Very good news. Prayers continue. Maybe with a healthy Hamlin, he can help put a little bit of humanity back in humans. Everything that happens occurs for a purpose.

[lepton]

If not actual lung damage, at the least chest bruising.

[gas_dr]

You are so wrong it’s laughable

[dforest]

I tend to believe nothing from officials. The family member is probably much more honest.

[gas_dr]

The time frame for emergence from therapeutic hypothermia is perfect. He is neurologically intact. My guess is he may have aspirated as he had a full stomach when he was intubates and had his arrest which may take a little more time to improve. He is awake and following complex commands according to this. My bet is he is off the vent in the next couple days if his aspiration has resolved and playing football next year.

[bray]

No report on the condition of the heart.

[Jim Noble]

The weaning process often involves tolerating lower oxygen levels than usual for brief periods of time.

I’m sure he will be on the vent as long as he’s recovering neurologically and needs a higher-than-usual pO2.

[lepton]

https://nypost.com/2023/01/05/damar-hamlin-awake-and-showing-remarkable-improvement/

[FamiliarFace]

It is specific phrasing, isn’t it?

I’m guessing it’s because he may have been without oxygen for several minutes.

I have a friend who had an accident, falling off a ladder. Something hit him in the head when he was on it. Anyway, he had some brain damage for a while, but early on, we learned that he suffered damage only to certain parts of his brain. It was really hard to watch him be so injured. Praying was about all we could do from so far away. He recovered fully, but it was months before he had most of his motor skills back. I think it was just in the last year that he’s started driving again, and only to familiar nearby places. He doesn’t drive across the country like he used to do.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

If there is no significant impact on kidneys and liver.

[FamiliarFace]

It’s very encouraging, isn’t it?

[dsrtsage]

I can’t imagine how much worse it could have been had he contracted covid

[alexander_busek]

It is specific phrasing, isn’t it?

Yeah! "He'll soon be as good as new!" would be straight talking.

Regards,

[the OlLine Rebel]

So good to hear.

Thank you God! Please keep helping him get back to his family.

[SaxxonWoods]

Thanks.