Following the life-threatening tackle he took on Monday Night Football, Damar Hamlin thanked his fans for their “overwhelming” support with an Instagram snap of a wide grin.
The 24-year-old safety for the Buffalo Bills posted a few images of himself in uniform on Saturday, accompanied by a block quote from Dr. Timothy Pritts, who said that when Hamlin woke up and asked who won the Bills-Bengals game, doctors informed him he had “won the game of life.”
“When you put pure love out into the cosmos, it returns to you 3x’s as much.,” the second-year NFL athlete captioned his photo. “This unbelievable show of love and concern has been a great comfort to me, and I am extremely appreciative. To aid in this endeavor, we reconstructed Earth. Those who know me well realize this will reinforce me even more. Distance traveler here; say a prayer for me if you think of it. Equally as powerful as a three.”
Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, sent Hamlin a message that included a red love emoji and the number 3.
Tee Higgins, a talented wide receiver for the Bengals, was struck by Hamlin before collapsing. Higgins replied with a series of emoticons.
A screenshot of a happy-looking Pitt grad’s FaceTime conversation was posted on his Instagram Story. The words “Back working” and a red heart emoji were in the middle of the Story.
This is Hamlin’s first Instagram post since he promoted his annual toy drive on Christmas Day. Hamlin set out to raise $2,000 in his fundraising campaign. In the wake of his hospitalization, donations from his passionate fan base poured in, and the toy drive has now topped $8.2 million.
On Friday, Hamlin sent the team a “Love you fellas” FaceTime greeting. Hamlin’s breathing tube was removed the night before, the team reported Friday, and he “continues to develop significantly in his rehabilitation,” the club added.
They said that “his neurologic function is intact, and he has been conversing with his loved ones and care team.”
