According to his uncle, Dorrian Glenn, Damar Hamlin’s status has improved at a Cincinnati hospital.
Glenn told NFL Network Tuesday night that the Buffalo Bills’ safety remains in the ICU but has improved to 50 percent oxygen on a ventilator — he was previously on 100 percent.
The 24-year-old is still sedated but Glenn appeared optimistic about his nephew’s health.
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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. (Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports/File)
“Right now they’ve got him on a ventilator, so they’re trying to get him to breathe on his own,” Glenn told the network. “So we just take it day by day. Still in intensive care. They’ve sedated him, so just continue with the medical treatment they’ve been administering.”
Glenn added, “Once he gets out of ICU I’ll feel better about myself.”
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest at 8:55 p.m. on “Monday Night Football” against the Cincinnati Bengals after attacking Tee Higgins – medical personnel performed nine minutes of CPR on the field before he was taken to a local hospital.
“I’m really, really grateful to the medical staff that worked with him,” Glenn said of the “heartbreaking” events. “They were really great and helped him with his recovery. It was a really, really scary scene to witness yesterday, as anyone in the country can probably agree. I would have felt the way I felt no matter who it was, but the fact that it was my nephew, man, it was especially a gut punch to see that. I’m thankful he’s still here, he’s still alive and he’s still fighting. We take it day by day and let the medical staff continue to do what they do.”
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills walks to the tunnel during halftime against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
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Following the frightening incident, fans have donated more than $5 million to Hamlin’s Toy Actions charity fund – which was established in 2020 and had an initial goal of $2,500. Retailer Fanatics also said all proceeds from Hamlin’s shirt sales, which have skyrocketed over the past 24 hours, will go to the foundation.
“It’s great to see all the love and support my nephew has out here,” Glenn said. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to see how loved they are while they’re alive, so he has a situation where he could have been taken away and he has a chance to come back and see all the love he got, it’s truly an amazing thing and I can’t wait for him to see all the love and support people have for him. Not just in the area but across the country and around the world, it was amazing. “
Hamlin’s family released a statement on Tuesday expressing “sincere gratitude” for the support they have received during a “challenging time” for the family.
“On behalf of our family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words and donations from fans across the country,” the statement said.
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills is shown during a game at Highmark Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
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The game was officially postponed 66 minutes after Hamlin collapsed. The NFL announced earlier Tuesday that the game will not be rescheduled this week and Week 18 will be played as scheduled.