View gallery
Damar Hamlin had one of many greatest highlights of the 2023 NFL Honors awards on Thursday, February 9. The Buffalo Bills security, 24, gave an emotional speech thanking each God and people who handled him after he went into cardiac arrest through the Bills’ January 2 match towards the Cincinnati Bengals. He was joined on stage by the entire medical employees who helped him within the hospital.
Damar Hamlin makes shock look at NFL Honors awards present. Also on stage is all the medical employees that helped save his life. pic.twitter.com/QISsiii6Ir
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 10, 2023
Damar started his speech by merely being grateful that he was alive, and he was glad that his story may give so many individuals hope, even when he by no means would’ve chosen to undergo from sudden cardiac arrest. “First, I would like to just thank God for even being here. Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country and even across the world. Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting no matter the circumstances,” he mentioned. “My vision was about playing in the NFL and being the best player that I could be, but God’s plan was to have a purpose greater than any game in this world.”
The security continued and mentioned that whereas there was nonetheless a lot in regards to the future that was unsure, he was glad that he may present hope to those that wanted it. “My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope, and now, with a new set of circumstances, I can only say he’s doing what he’s always done. I have a long journey ahead, a journey full of unknowns and a journey full of milestones, but it’s a lot easier to face your fears when you know your purpose,” he mentioned.
Damar then recalled an ICU physician coming to talk to him a couple of days after he first wakened, and he mentioned the physician shared his personal comparable expertise. “He showed me he was okay, and that meant so much to me. There was so much uncertainty at the time, and just him coming to me, showing that I could live a normal life again, it meant so much to me in the moment,” he defined.
Damar concluded his speech by extending a serious due to the physician and all of the medical professionals who helped him throughout what was certainly a daunting time. “I want to give a big thank you to him, and a special thank you to everyone on this stage for everything they did for me, and thank you everyone around the country and around the world who prayed for me and hoped for me,” he mentioned. “The journey will continue.”
After going into cardiac arrest through the January 2 Monday Night Football recreation, play was suspended for the Bills-Bengals recreation. Damar was hospitalized for 9 days. After per week, he was transferred to a medical facility in Buffalo, and launched simply two days later.