To Damar Hamlin, not a single birthday is something to be taken for granted.
The Buffalo Bills safety, who turned 25 on Friday, celebrated his birthday by posting a series of photographs and motivational words on Instagram. The fact that he was in serious condition just two months ago makes the significance of this day all the more apparent.
“The gift of life is irreplaceable. It is a gift to be able to celebrate another birthday “He provided the accompanying captions for the carousel of pictures, which described various interactions with teammates, friends, and other people. The article had a number of encouraging passages, such as “Every event, regardless of how positive or negative it may be, is a chance to learn and develop.”
Continuing on in his post, he said, “I don’t even know where to begin to describe how I’m feeling… & even if I could tell you, the chances are that you wouldn’t even know half of it. So I’m going to savor this one a little bit more than usual today!”
“I know my purpose of why I’m here, and I’m aligned focused, and only responding to my greater calling,” he said. “I’m just here to answer my higher calling.”
After making a tackle on a player for the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and slumped to the ground while the game was still being broadcast. The incident was shown live on television.
After suffering a medical scare on the field, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, but less than a week later, the Bills issued a statement confirming that Hamlin had been released from the hospital and was on his way back home.
On February 12, safety took the field before Super Bowl LVII for a touching moment with the first responders and healthcare professionals who cared for him following his cardiac arrest. He honored the medical teams from the Cincinnati Bengals and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in a special tribute by taking part at the moment.
Last month, Hamlin was asked whether he planned to return to football, and he responded by saying that he may need a little bit more time to think about it. “I’m still trying to figure things out. I’m still trying to work through all of the feelings, as well as the trauma, that comes along with having to deal with a scenario like that “he shared his thoughts with Michael Strahan of Good Morning America.