Damar Hamlin: A symbol of hope, unity and prayer for America

It was turning into the National Football League’s worst nightmare; a fear that was finally going to be painfully realized on national television as the Buffalo Bills battled the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in a Monday Night Football showdown just over a week ago.

 

But a week later and with an apparent happy ending, it brought together what many believe is a divided Amercia. It didn’t matter what your political leanings were. It didn’t matter what the color of your skin or nationality was. You didn’t even have to like football. But if you were like many people, you were praying for Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.

 

It’s been, to say the least, a rough few years for the United States, who has been in desperate need of a symbol of hope. We found it. A young man who played football and almost died in front of our eyes. And, somehow, he united us in prayer.

 

Today, doctors say the 24-year-old safety is “neurologically intact” and showing “remarkable improvement.”  He was moved from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to one in Buffalo on Jan. 9.

 

Seven days earlier, Hamlin laid lifeless on the field after making what appeared to be a routine tackle against Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins, a former Clemson star. Hamlin stood up but fell backwards to the ground. By the way the players reacted with tears, painful hugs and other emotions, Hamlin appeared to be in critical condition.

 

Bills’ trainers sprang into action and in just seconds first responders initiated CPR, automated external defibrillation and other treatments to Hamlin on the field for about 10 minutes as players from the opposing teams kneeled together.

 

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest not once that night, but twice and miraculously managed to survive. And one of the reasons Hamlin survived just might have been because of the power of prayer.

 

It began during the broadcast of the game when ESPN analyst Suzie Kobler said, “We’re all joined in prayer.”

 

It spilled over into the next day when ESPN reporter Dan Orlovsky led a prayer on national television.

 

“If we didn’t believe that prayer (works), we wouldn’t ask this of you, God,” Orlovsky said. “I believe in prayer. We believe in prayer. We lift up Damar Hamlin’s name in your name.” 

 

All 32 NFL squads included “Pray for Damar” on their Twitter avatars and most teams knelt in unison and prayer before last weekend’s games.

 

Ironically, Paycor Stadium, which used to be known as Paul Brown Stadium, has had its share of heartaches in past years.

 

In 2016, Pittsburgh Steelers’ then wide receiver Antonio Brown was on the receiving end of a massive shot to the head in Cincinnati. 

 

A year later, Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier was partially paralyzed when making a tackle in Cincinnati.

 

And, earlier this season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a brutal concussion in Cincinnati.

 

And then there was Hamlin.

 

He inspired us. He united us. And he gave us a reason to pray.