By CALLIE WATSON
Staff Writer
The Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals started out seemingly normal, but quickly became a game that will go down in NFL history.
Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin, tackled a Bengals wide receiver in the first quarter. However, Hamlin collapsed on the field seconds after standing up and went into cardiac arrest. Buffalo’s medical team quickly administered CPR to Hamlin for 9 minutes and he was resuscitated on the field by club staff and first responders. Hamlin was promptly taken to a Cincinnati hospital and has been recovering since. Early on January 11th, he was released from Buffalo General Hospital and has been cleared to start rehabilitation at home with the Bills.
As the world watched in fear for Damar, everyone started to do one thing. Pray. Dr. Joel Muddamalle summarized this reaction the best in his tweet, “When we see tragedy the first response is prayer. It’s built into the fabric of our humanity.”
I think that this tragedy shattered society’s idea that athletes are invincible, but also highlighted the football player’s humanity. My heart broke for the Bills players as they kneeled around Hamlin and watched him receive CPR. Viewers watched the players cry and embrace each other amidst the uncertainty. The NFL canceled the game after Damar’s injury.
A little over a week later, the NFL is starting to get back to normal and Damar is recovering. The Hamlin family has kindly provided updates about the Bills’ safety. Hamlin himself has been tweeting out his gratitude as he continues to recover. After his injury, his toy drive has received over $8 million in donations. During week 18 of the NFL, various clubs sported Damar’s number (3), painted their 30-yard lines in Bills’ colors, and honored Hamlin and the Bills’ medical staff at their games.
