Phoenix, Ariz. (WGR 550) - More than a month after surviving sudden cardiac arrest on the playing field of Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been able to spend time in Arizona this week leading up to Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at State Fame Stadium.
It was on Wednesday when Hamlin was recognized as the winner of the 2023 NFL Players' Association's Alan Page Community Service Award, as voted on by the players. The Alan Page Award recognizes one player annually who goes above and beyond to perform community service in his team city and/or hometown.
Related
At the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday in Phoenix, the league recognized Hamlin once again, as he took to the stage to along with medical staff from the Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
"Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country, and even across the world. Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting, no matter the circumstances," said Hamlin during his roughly two-minute speech. "Sudden cardiac arrest was nothing I would have ever chosen to be a part of my story, but that's because sometimes our own visions are too small, even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture. My vision was about playing in the NFL, and being the best player that I could be. But God's plan was to have a purpose greater than any game in this world. My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope. And now with a new set of circumstances, I can only say he's doing what he's always done."
Hamlin collapsed to the turf in Cincinnati in the first quarter of Buffalo's Monday night showdown with the Bengals after making, what seemed to be, a routine tackle to wide receiver Tee Higgins. Within a brief matter of moments after the Bills medical team realized the gravity of the situation, life-saving CPR was administered to Hamlin, as well as the use of an AED to kickstart his heartbeat again.
After spending a couple of days in a medically-induced coma at UCMC in critical condition, Hamlin was able to make a remarkable recovery and return to a Buffalo hospital within a week of the incident.
While Hamlin knows his journey ahead will be long and filled with plenty of unknowns, he says it is a lot easier to face his fears now that he knows his purpose.
"My third night awake in the hospital, I met an ICU doctor. His name was Yusef. He told me he had a similar experience. He showed me he was OK, and that meant so much to me. There was so much uncertainty at the time, and just him coming to me, showing that I can live a normal life again, it meant so much to me in the moment," Hamlin said. "I want to give a big thank you to him, and a special thank you to everyone on this stage for everything they did for me. And thank you everyone around the country, and around the world who prayed for me and hoped for me. The journey will continue."
