Damar Hamlin goes home: Bills safety released from Buffalo hospital nine days after cardiac arrest during game

Damar Hamlin is back home. Three days after being transferred to a Buffalo-area hospital — and nine days after suffering cardiac arrest during a ‘Monday Night Football’ game — the Bills safety cleared a comprehensive medical evaluation and can continue his rehabilitation at home and with Bills medical and coaching staff. The move is a giant step in the right direction on his road to recovery.

About a week after being admitted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin was discharged and transferred to a Buffalo-area hospital, his doctors announced Monday. Hamlin elaborated on the great news via social media:

On Tuesday, the Bills announced that Hamlin remained hospitalized at Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute and was undergoing a series of tests and evaluations. Hamlin posted an update on his status as well:

The Bills second-year safety had been at UC Medical Center since going into cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. Hamlin’s condition improved dramatically after he initially received on-field CPR from Bills medical staff before leaving the stadium in an ambulance. On Friday, Hamlin’s doctors announced that he was breathing on his own. On Saturday, the Bills announced that Hamlin displayed “excellent” neurological function.

Hamlin, after FaceTiming with his Buffalo teammates on Friday, posted his first public comments via social media. In his posts, Hamlin has expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported him.

“When you put true love out into the world, it comes back to you 3X,” Hamlin wrote on his Instagram page. “The love has been overwhelming, but I’m grateful for every single person who prayed for me and reached out. We’ve brought the world together after this. If you know me, you know this just flew by, make me stronger. In a long way to go keep praying for me!”

Hamlin has also launched his own line of T-shirts, with proceeds going to the UC Trauma Center.

A starter on Buffalo’s defense, Hamlin was active on social media during Buffalo’s Week 18 win over the Patriots — one that clinched the No. 1 seed. 2 for the Bills. Buffalo is now preparing to host the Dolphins in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Hamlin, via FaceTime, took part in the Bills’ postgame celebration on Sunday.

The Bills hope Hamlin can return to the facility during the team’s playoff run.

“Hopefully we can get him here,” cornerback Tre’Davious White said, via the team’s website. “I just want to hug (expletive) from him because in the boardroom he sits like two seats away from me and every time he walks into the boardroom he says, ‘T Weezy!’ So I can’t wait to hear his voice and to be able to touch him and just hug (expletive) from him and hear him again. So we miss you man and just come back to us. It’s been a tough week. It’s been a tough week.”