Damar Hamlin’s family representative revealed that the Buffalo Bills player made ‘progress’ in intensive care overnight, and doctors took ‘promising readings’ on his health.
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field Monday night and was resuscitated by medics, but updates have been positive in the days since, with his ventilator usage reduced from 100 percent to 50 percent Tuesday .
ESPN spoke with friend and family representative Jordon Rooney outside a Cincinnati hospital on Wednesday, and he revealed the positive news that doctors are happy with the progress he’s made.
He added that there is ‘no clarity at this moment, how long things are going to take, how things are going to go,’ before also clarifying that Hamlin is ‘still stable and in critical condition in the ICU’.
Rooney was also quick to correct the ‘misinformation’ being spread about the number of times Hamlin was revived, with the player’s uncle telling reporters it happened twice, once at the stadium and once at the hospital.
Today it was announced that there was only one resuscitation, on the field in the stadium.
Damar Hamlin remains hospitalized after suffering cardiac arrest on the field Monday night
Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, pictured, told reporters he suffered lung damage
Hamlin, pictured in October, got up briefly before falling backwards to the ground and motionless as support poured in for the young player.
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for the Bills’ safety
Rooney also revealed the family’s dismay that Tee Higgins – the Bengals player involved in the tackle on Hamlin – has received backlash online.
He said: ‘Damar’s parents are frustrated that Tee is receiving such a negative reaction, he has reached out and supported Damar and his family.
‘It was fantastic, made a difficult situation a little easier. They are so grateful, they always give to others, they just say how grateful they are.’
Hamlin’s uncle Dorrian Glenn revealed late Tuesday that the Bills safety suffered ‘lung damage’ after being resuscitated by medics, but that he was ‘trending in the right direction’.
Speaking to reporters outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center last night, Glenn said: ‘Right now he’s just trying to breathe better. Right now he is on a ventilator just to help him breathe.
‘He’s had a bit of lung damage since yesterday, but he’s at 100 per cent on the ventilator helping him breathe, but now he’s at 50 per cent, so that’s a good thing.
‘Like I said, we’ll just take it day by day. I am grateful for all the prayers and support.
Close friend and family representative Jordon Rooney says the NFL star is making positive progress
Objects are placed by football fans during a vigil outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center
The Buffalo Bills safety, who sets up charity toy drives to raise money for his local community, tackles Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of Monday night’s pivotal game
‘They’re sedating him just to give him a better chance of just continuing to heal. We just take it day by day. He seems to be trending upwards in a positive way.
‘He is still in the ICU and is sedated while they continue to provide medical treatment. I am grateful to the staff who worked with him.
‘My nephew is humble. He will be floored by love. He is a genuine, positive person from the toy drive to his coaching clinic.’
Hamlin was immediately rushed to the hospital after being given CPR on the field while surrounded by his terrified teammates, at the end of a big hit in the early stages of Monday night’s NFL game.
He is currently in critical condition with the sports world shocked by his sudden breakdown after a tackle with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
“His heartbeat was restored on the field” and he was transported to the medical center “for further evaluation and treatment,” the Bills team tweeted Tuesday.
Hamlin is pictured with mother Nina during his childhood playing days – he says he chose to stay close to home when attending college so he could be close to his family
He was surrounded by players from both sides and treated for 16 minutes before being immobilized and taken off the field.
Bills players were visibly stunned as their teammate received life-saving treatment on the field.
Close friend and family representative Rooney told CNN and GMA that the NFL star is a ‘fighter,’ but his family is ‘worried’.
Hamlin’s family was at the game when he collapsed and his mother Nina traveled with him to the hospital in the ambulance.
On the field, he managed to get up briefly before falling backwards to the ground and motionless as support poured in for the young player.
Meanwhile, the NFL revealed this week that the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game will not be rescheduled for this week after Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.
‘The NFL continues to be in contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, as well as the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association,’ the NFL’s statement on Tuesday afternoon read.
Moments later Hamlin collapsed, falling backwards and motionless to the floor
‘After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not go ahead this week.
‘The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date.
The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule.
‘We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.’
There is speculation as to whether the game will be completely phased out with the playoffs just around the corner.
The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Las Vegas Raiders this Saturday and if Patrick Mahomes and Co. win. they will stamp the No. 1 seed spot for the playoffs, which would make Bills-Bengals academic. If the Chiefs lose the Bills will still have a chance to claim the top seed.
