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Damar Hamlin: “I Felt Like God Was Using Me to Give Others Hope”

Damar Hamlin: “I Felt Like God Was Using Me to Give Others Hope”

Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who was critically injured during a football game last month, delivered an emotional speech honoring God during last night’s NFL Honors event.

“My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope,” Hamlin said. “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.”

Damar Hamlin speaks at the NFL Honors on Jan. 9.

Hamlin, 24, suffered cardiac arrest after making a seemingly-routine tackle and was given CPR to revive him back to life on the field before being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. After waking up from sedation on Jan. 4, he returned home on Jan. 11. In the days that followed, fans from around the country prayed for Hamlin and raised over $9 million for his Chasing M Foundation.

“Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country, and even across the world,” Hamlin said. “Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting, no matter the circumstances. Sudden cardiac arrest was nothing that I would have ever chosen to be a part of my story. But that’s because sometimes, our own visions are too small, even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture. 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 greater purpose than any game in this world.”

Hamlin also expressed his gratitude for the medical staff that saved his life and for being given a second chance to live. Before he took the stage, the awards show played a montage detailing the medical staff’s efforts and welcomed members of the Bills and Bengals training and medical staffs as well as the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to the stage. Jim Kelly, legendary Bills quarterback, introduced them as “Team Damar” and they received a standing ovation from the audience.

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