Damar Hamlin posts a photo from her hospital bed rooting for the Buffalo Bills a week after they collapsed on the field

CNN
—

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin posted a photo of himself on social media Sunday that shows him sitting up in his hospital bed and rooting for his teammates less than a week later. his cardiac arrest and collapse on the field.

“GAME TIME!!!” Hamlin wrote in the post.. The image showed him with his hands folded in a heart sign and wearing a cap with the number 3 and a “Love for Damar” T-shirt.

He posted early Sunday about his wish being on the field for the Bills game against the New England Patriots.

“It’s GameDay and there’s nothing I want more than to run that tunnel with my brothers,” he wrote alongside a video of himself from earlier in the season. “God uses me in a different way today! Tell someone you love them today!” He added the hashtag #Prayfor3, his jersey number.

Throughout the league, and particularly in Buffalo, players, coaches, and fans expressed their support for Hamlin with jerseys, signs, and jersey patches bearing his name and number 3. Several of his Bills teammates took the field. at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. , NY, waving flags with Hamlin’s name and jersey number.

Bills star quarterback Josh Allen arrived at the stadium today with sweatshirt with a large number 3 and a quote from Hamlin: “If you get a chance to show some love today, do it! It won’t cost you anything. Hamlin retweeted a photo of Allen and added“That’s my quarterback.”

At Orchard Park, the public address announcer read a statement in support of Hamlin to a roar from the crowd. Fans throughout the stadium displayed signs supporting Hamlin such as “BILLI3VE,” “All Hearts for #3,” “Love for Damar” and “Thank You Medical Staff!”

Members of the Bills’ medical and athletic training staff were recognized before the game, including assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington, the man credited with saving Hamlin’s life.

The Bills gave Hamlin something to immediately smile about once the game started. Bills returner Nyhiem Hines took the kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown, a storybook start that sent the crowd into euphoria and prompted Hamlin to tweet: “Wow! ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

The tributes come six days after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and suddenly collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter of Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Medical coaches and doctors performed CPR on Hamlin on the field and rushed him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in front of visibly distraught players and a stunned stadium.

The game between the two AFC heavyweights was postponed and later canceled by the NFL.

Hamlin’s photo of himself in his hospital bed comes after a week of cautiously positive news about his prognosis.

With the world eagerly awaiting updates, the Bills said Thursday there had been a “marked improvement” in his health, with doctors saying the player’s “neurological condition and function is intact.” On Friday, the team tweeted that Hamlin’s breathing tube had been removed overnight, according to doctors, and that he was able to speak with his family and health care providers.

Hamlin was able to join a team meeting via FaceTime on Friday and was able to speak with players and coaches. “I love you guys,” he told the team.

The Bills safety said on Instagram Saturday that he was grateful for the love he received and asked for continued prayers for a “long road” ahead.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Hamlin’s positivity has buoyed the team ahead of his return to the game on Sunday.

“He’s amazing. His spirit is so positive. He’s going to be ‘locked up,’ he said, to see the guys today. We’ll be thinking about him for sure.”

McDermott said he had exchanged text messages with Hamlin Saturday night and Sunday morning. In McDermott’s pregame interview on CBS, he said Hamlin’s improving health has really been a “big boost for guys to take their minds off of it, on Damar a little bit, enough to focus on their preparation.” for this game.”

Hamlin’s teammates, many of whom were in tears as they watched the medical team resuscitate the 24-year-old, gathered for a tour Wednesday and held their first full practice of the week Thursday.

In a press conference before Sunday’s game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen told reporters that concentrating on football has been difficult with his teammate still in the hospital.

“I think putting my helmet back on was a really good thing for our team and going through that process,” he said Thursday. “But I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that some people are forever changed after being on the field and witnessing that and feeling those emotions.

“The best way that we can keep moving forward, obviously, the updates that we keep getting on Damar, it really lifts our spirits. Leaning on each other, talking to each other,” he said. “We have had some very open, honest and deep conversations. Some are amazing, this sounds weird, but some hug like men, just hugging someone and actually just leaning on them.

“There’s been a lot of that going around and you need it all, you really need it. I think the fact that we keep hearing good news about Damar keeps pushing us forward.”

The Hamlin collapse is the last in a chain of recent tragedies that have struck the Buffalo community, including a racist mass shooting and a historic blizzard who left at least 41 people dead in Erie County, New York.

A high-ranking official within the Bills organization told CNN’s Coy Wire that they broke down in tears after the day and night meetings Tuesday, sobbing at the severity of the situation. The series of tough blows to Buffalo have built up emotionally within the organization, the source said, adding that through it all, the team has tried to be a source of strength for the city.

McDermott has been praised by his players for his handling of the Hamlin situation and the 48-year-old says his number one priority is the health and well-being of his players.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, McDermott said a Zoom call with Damar’s father Mario on Wednesday had helped players feel more comfortable preparing for the game.

“Damar’s father spoke to the team and really his message was that the team needs to get back to focusing on the goals that they set for themselves,” McDermott said Thursday.

“Damar would have wanted it that way. And that includes our game against New England this week. And I think that has helped.”

Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins told CNN the brief meeting “took a lot of weight off our shoulders.”

“Seeing his father’s look on his face, it was honestly all we needed to see to make a big step forward,” Dawkins told CNN’s Don Lemon on Friday.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, an opponent and rival to the Bills, said preparing to face them has been difficult.

“We’re all here, you know, we’ve got a job to do, but really we’re just worried about him and his family and I’m just trying to get updates and make sure he’s okay and he’s there for the Bills and his organization as well.” he told reporters.

“So definitely a lot of emotions and things like that run and trying to stay focused on the game is hard. It’s a hard thing to do and that’s just one thing you have to do is focus on each day and obviously send your prayers and also carry on with your routine to the best of your ability.”