(The Slice): Damar Hamlin, who plays safety in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, has awakened from a medically induced coma. The player's agent told CNN he is conscious and holding hands with his family. This latest update came from his doctors Thursday, in their first public comments about his condition, which remains critical.
Hamlin had a heart attack on the filed in a game against the Cincinatti Bengals on Jan. 2.
In a written note he asked if the team won the game. “The answer is yes, Damar, you won the game of life,” Dr. Pritt told Hamlin.
“It’s not only that the lights are on, it’s that he’s home. All of the cylinders are firing right in his brain,” said Dr. Timothy Pritt of the University of Cincinatti Medical Center during a press conference.
Doctors say coming out of sedation with this level of awareness and nueroloical functioning is substantial progress but he still has a breathing tube.
“He still has significant progress he needs to make, but this makes a good turning point in his ongoing care,” Pritts said.
Support for the 24-year-old Pennsylvania native has been overwhelming. From Pres. Joe Biden to ESPN anchors, the entire nation has been behind #3 hoping and praying for a full recovery. Biden said he spoke "at length" to Hamlin's mother and father this week. In additiona to well-wishes and prayers donations in his Toy Drive topped $6 million. The video of anchors bowing their heads and praying for Damar during a broadcast went viral.
“It’s been a long and difficult road for the last three days. He’s been very sick, and made a very remarkable recovery and improvement.” Dr. William Knight IV said.
The road to full recovery has many steps the doctors said, starting with breathing on his own.
The timeframe for recovery from a heart attack varies and is indefinite for Hamlin.