Bills’ Damar Hamlin discharged from Buffalo hospital
11:44 ET
Alaina GetzenbergESPN
BUFFALO, NY — After more than nine days in two hospitals, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been discharged from Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, the team announced Wednesday.
Hamlin is now back home in Buffalo with his family. He underwent a comprehensive medical evaluation as well as a series of cardiac, neurological and vascular tests on Tuesday.
Dr. Jamie Nadler, critical care physician and chief quality officer at Kaleida Health, which runs Buffalo General, and the leader of Hamlin’s care team said in a statement: “We have completed a series of tests and evaluations and in consultation with the medical team, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with bills.”
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Bills coach Sean McDermott said they will leave it up to Hamlin when he would like to return to the team facility.
“His health is first and foremost on our mind as far as this situation goes,” McDermott said. And then when he feels ready, we will welcome him back.”
Hamlin has been hospitalized in Buffalo since Monday after being released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He spent almost a week in the hospital in Cincinnati after going into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of a Monday Night Football game between the Bills and Bengals. The game was first postponed after Hamlin collapsed on the field and then canceled a few days later.
Hamlin, 24, was flown to Buffalo on Monday and admitted to Buffalo General, but entered the hospital in stable condition. The team at the Buffalo hospital was tasked with “identifying any possible cause of the event, potentially treating any pathology that may be found, and planning for his recovery, discharge and rehabilitation,” according to a statement from Kaleida Health, of which. oversees the hospital.
Hamlin was joined by his parents, Mario and Nina, and his 7-year-old brother, Damir, at the hospital on Tuesday. His brother was unable to visit him in the ICU in Cincinnati because of rules to prevent the spread of the flu and RSV, according to Bills general manager Brandon Beane.
In the days after suffering cardiac arrest, Hamlin received support from around the world with millions of dollars donated to his GoFundMe toy drive as part of his Chasing Millions foundation. The 2021 sixth-round pick from Pittsburgh has prioritized his community in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh, and being a role model for kids there. NFL teams showed their support for Hamlin in a variety of ways, including blue-and-red stadium lights, “Love Damar” t-shirts and moments of prayer and celebration for his recovery.
Bills players returned to the field Sunday for the first time since Hamlin’s cardiac arrest in their win over the New England Patriots, but the game’s focus was all on Hamlin, with players wearing jerseys with “3” patches on them and the Bills’ medical and athletic training staff recognized before the game. Fans throughout the stadium supported Hamlin with signs, while the players held up the three fingers throughout the game.
