Silke Jasso
The Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills fans held quite a touching tribute for safety Damar Hamlin before the kickoff at Highmark Stadium. The game was the first rematch for the two teams since January 2nd, when Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during the first quarter. The game was then suspended as a player was rushed to the hospital.
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The Bills shared a tribute video of Hamlin at Highmark Stadium along with his family, as he visited the locker room before the game started. During the pregame show, there was a lot of talk about his recovery. He didn’t visit the field but rather went to a suite to watch the game. Safe to say the stadium was full of fans holding signs in support of the football player.
Damar Hamlin and his family are taking in the game from a suite ❤️
— ESPN (@espn) January 22, 2023
(via @BuffaloBills) pic.twitter.com/ZSSQW4wUrq
Hamlin was released from the hospital on January 9th and has since improved significantly, but isn’t fully healed. On Thursday, Hamlin’s business partner and close friend Jordan Rooney told ESPN that he still had a limping recovery ahead of him, “ despite being out of the hospital.”
Hamlin reportedly still requires oxygen and is “having his heart monitored regularly.” But, the football player has been able to visit his teammates since he was released from the hospital, according to friends. “He has visited with the team a few times but he still gets winded very easily,” Rooney stated. As you continue his journey to write “Rooney stated Hamlin “ remains upbeat and positive and ready to continue to overcome this.
Welcome home, @HamlinIsland. ❤️💙#CINvsBUF | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/OG88gibcVv
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 22, 2023
After his collapse, the City of Buffalo showed their support in many ways including lighting City Hall and the Niagara Falls Buffalo Bills colors as well as donating to Hamlin’s Chasin M’s Foundation Community toy drive which has now raised more than $7 million.
