What’s Next?

Over the past two weeks or so, my emotions have scattered from one topic to another and I did not know where to start. What follows is my attempt.

On January 2, a football player for the Buffalo Bills experienced a near-death event in front of hundreds of thousands of people at the stadium in Kansas City and those watching on television. Damar Hamlin tackled an opposing player, stood up, then collapsed backward. He was immediately treated, while unconscious, for what seemed like an hour.

The stadium was quiet, the players on both sides came together near Mr. Hamlin. Some players were in tears, many were praying individually or kneeling together. The injury, which later was explained  by physicians as a traumatic blow to the chest which caused his heart to stop. His heart was restarted on the field and he was transferred to a local Kansas City hospital. As he was sedated, his heart stopped again in the hospital and was started again. Each day following, the news said Damar was recovering and amazingly he was transported back to Buffalo to continue his treatment. Released from the hospital, he continues to recover, and even visited his teammates and rooted them on as they won their next playoff game.

There are many aspects to this story. I have not written before of near-death experiences. To my knowledge, no one has called Mr. Hamlin’s circumstance as this, but I have. I will write about this topic in a future blog post.

The National Football League learned a lot about itself on January 2 and the days and weeks following. This can happen again. The quick and superior medical response on the field saved Damar Hamlin’s life, but the episode calls for even more study, practice and decisions about the broader issues of safety of the game.

The players and coaches responses to their injured brother were spectacular. The game itself was not important after Damar fell. What was important was Damar’s health and that his family, friends and followers be supported  following his traumatic situation. They did that through their thoughts and prayers. I have written about our country’s negative criticism those three words (thoughts and prayers) have created in our country over the past three years. I have heard nothing but appreciation for the players and coaches and the empathy they had following this tragedy. Also, the people in Kansas City setting up a prayer area outside the hospital meant so much to the family at this critical time. And certainly, the donations from football and non-football fans to Mr. Hamlin’s foundation for children was an incredible way to share their love and kindness for him and his family.  

I am among those who prayed for the work of the medical responders and the hospital caregivers. Damar Hamlin received incredible treatment. It is said that from every loss we experience, there is something good which arises. We have seen good in the midst of this situation on the football field and we should continue to learn from it for the future.  

Next up: On January 6, in Newport News, VA, a six-year-old student shot his teacher in the classroom. What do we learn from this tragic situation?