Everyone expects someone who’s out of a life-threatening situation to think about their family or those close to them. However, Damar Hamlin had other plans in mind. Surprising everyone around him, the first words he was able to write down on a piece of paper were “did we win?” Fortunately, one doctor had an appropriate answer for the historic moment. “Yes, Damar. You Won. You won the game of life.”
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Dr. Timothy Pritts and Dr. William Knight appeared in a press conference to talk about Hamlin’s progress in the last few days. The doctors convey some very good news to the NFL community: Hamlin is making progress. He is able to move his hands and feet, and is able to communicate with others via writing.
However, doctors aren’t sure as to when he would be taken off the ventilator. “Every patient is different,” Dr. Pritts said. “When patients’ families ask how long are they going to be on a ventilator, in the ICU, (we’ll say), as long as it takes”. Dr. Pritts also commended the Bills’ medical team for their quick response. He said that if not for them, Hamlin’s situation may have been very different.
Dr. Knight adds that the best outcome for Hamlin in this scenario is to be able to return to the status quo before the tragic incident. In other words, “being the person he was before this all happened.”
Doctors treating Damar Hamlin praise medical teams and NFL for the response
Both doctors had words of praise for the medical staff who were the first responders to Hamlin’s injury. The NFL’s medical protocol for such emergencies keeps ready a team of doctors and specialists to aid and assist the team doctors. The NFL also ensures that the city where the game is happening has a level 1 trauma center.
The doctors said Hamlin initially had a weak pulse. Which he lost while the medical team was treating him on the field. The bystander CPR that the medical team administered proved crucial in Hamlin’s survival, according to Dr. Pritts. He says, “There are injuries that happen in sports, but it’s rare to have something (that) incredibly serious (that quickly). We cannot credit their team enough.”
Hamlin’s recovery timeline is still hazy, and doctors are unable to provide one right now. He is still listed as critically ill, but doctors say the signs of recovery are promising.
“While there’s a long way to go, all signs are optimistic. And point to what is likely to be a full neurologic recovery. And we’ve got to get there, but so far things have been very, very positive,” Dr. Thom Mayer, the medical director for the NFL Players’ Association, said.
Hamlin’s father talked to Bills players on Wednesday. Where he communicated to them what Hamlin wanted: The Bills to go out and play. “Really his message was, the team needs to get back to focusing on the goals that they had set for themselves,” head coach Sean McDermott said.“Damar would have wanted it that way, and that includes our game against New England this week.”
Bills QB Josh Allen is also pumped up for the game, saying it will be difficult not to fulfill Hamlin’s wishes. The Bills will face the New England Patriots at home this week. However, there is still no word of their crucial encounter with the Cincinnati Bengals that was postponed due to the injury. Fans expect the NFL to make a statement soon, before the regular season ends.
