Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition but has “shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” according to an update shared on the team’s Twitter account.
“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact,” the Thursday morning update added. “His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”
Hamlin has been in critical condition since his collapse on the field at Monday’s game and is under the care of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Shortly before the Buffalo Bills posted the update on Hamlin, Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam tweeted that his teammate was awake and improving.
“Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement,” tweeted Elam. “Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming, please. All love 3!”
Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, told CNN Tuesday night that his nephew was breathing on his own 50% of the time with his use of a ventilator down from 100% Monday, calling it a “good sign” in his recovery.
“Right now they’ve got him on a ventilator. They’re trying to get him to breathe on his own. We’re just kind of taking it day by day. Still in the ICU. They have him sedated. So just continue to administer the medical treatment they’ve been doing,” he said.
Glenn also said his nephew had to be resuscitated twice — once on the field and again at the hospital.
However, Hamlin’s friend and marketing representative Jordon Rooney clarified to CNN Wednesday that the NFL player was only resuscitated once following his collapse on the football field on Monday night.
“There’s a lot of medical jargon, a lot of things being said, so Damar’s only been resuscitated once,” Rooney said, speaking on behalf of the family. “There’s a lot going on, it’s hard for anyone to keep up with, who isn’t in the medical community.
“His uncle’s incredibly supportive of his, of his nephew,” Rooney continued. “I think that, you know, he just wanted to do his part to share some good news and I think just misspoke.”
Meanwhile, tributes and shows of support have continued to pour in for Hamlin.
A prayer vigil took place outside the Bills’ Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, which lasted about 20 minutes and included about 200 fans gathered in a big circle near a red, white, and blue “Love” sign.
The Buffalo Sabres wore “Love for 3” t-shirts honoring Hamlin before their Tuesday night game against the Washington Capitals.
On the ice, Sabres forward Tage Thompson’s put together a magical stat line with greater meaning in a solemn time for Buffalo sports, reflecting the No.3 Hamlin wears for the Bills.
Thompson provided the overtime winner exactly three minutes into the extra frame for his third goal of the game. The tally completed his third hat trick of the season and his 30th goal of the campaign.
“This one was for you, Damar,” the Sabres wrote on Twitter after their January 3 win.
Paycor Stadium, home of the Bengals, was lit in blue while the entire city lit up in blue and red, Bills colors, to show support for Hamlin on Monday night.
The video boards at Great American Ballpark — home of MLB’s Cincinnati Reds — showed Hamlin’s photo with “Prayers for Damar Hamlin.”
Support for Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which benefits toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more in his hometown in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has also been steady.
The 2020 GoFundMe page in support of a Christmas toy drive organized by the foundation has now passed the $7 million mark. About $2,900 was raised before the injury.
