Damar Hamlin’s message to teammates: ‘Love you boys’

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Damar Hamlin talked Friday morning with his Buffalo Bills teammates after his breathing tube was removed overnight, according to the team.

The news Friday is yet another positive sign as Hamlin “continues to progress remarkably in his recovery,” the Bills tweeted.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke Friday about the FaceTime call Hamlin and the team shared.

“He made the heart symbol probably more than anything and then he gave them a thumbs up,” McDermott explained. “And then somewhere in the midst of that, and it was a little bit hard to hear, but he, as you’d imagine, he said, ‘I love you, boys’ and of course that got the guys.”

The outpouring of support and love for Hamlin has come from Cincinnati, Buffalo and the entire country.

In less than a few hours after the second-year safety collapsed on the field of Paycor Stadium, Bengals and Bills fans gathered outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to pray for Hamlin.

It was in those moments and the days that followed that showed humanity at its finest. It did not matter if your team colors are orange and black or blue and red. Everyone came together for one purpose - to support Hamlin.

UC Medical Center staff say they have received hundreds of cards, many of which were made by Tri-State school students, and dozens of flower arrangements all in honor of Hamlin.

Hamlin’s neurologic function is still intact, the Bills added Friday.

On Thursday, University of Cincinnati Medical Center doctors gave an update on the 24-year-old’s condition.

They said he had shown “substantial improvement” from Wednesday to Thursday.

At the time he was not able to verbally communicate because of the breathing tube, but UC doctors said he was writing messages.

The first question Hamlin jotted down from his ICU bed after waking up was “did we win?”

The answer was simple, “yes, Damar, you won the game of life,” said Dr. Timothy Pritts, who specializes in general surgery, trauma, surgical critical care and more at UC Health.

Hamlin, a 24-year-old safety for the Bills, was placed in critical condition at UCMC after suffering cardiac arrest during Monday’s game against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium.

The initial moments on the field were crucial to Hamlin’s health, Dr. Pritts explained.

Both doctors gave immense credit to the Bills medical staff. Pritts says the team physicians recognized right away Hamlin did not suffer a “run of the mill” injury.

Dr. Pritts said it is “fair to say” that if not for the fast response from the Bills medical team, there may have been a different outcome for Hamlin.

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