NFL Doctor Says Damar Hamlin “Will Play Professional Football Again”

Just over a month after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills safety has received an optimistic prognosis on his playing future from the NFL players union doctor.

“I guarantee you that Damar Hamlin will play professional football again,” Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director of the NFL Players Association, said on SiriusXM Doctor Radio’s “Heart to Heart” program on Wednesday.

Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle in the first quarter of the game against the Bengals on January 2.

Doctors and trainers administered CPR and used a defibrillator on the field to resuscitate Hamlin before he was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance, leaving players, coaches, fans and the TV audience in shock.

Medical officials said he went into cardiac arrest, meaning his heart abruptly stopped beating. The game was postponed and ultimately canceled.

Hamlin was admitted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center before being transferred to a Buffalo medical center on January 9 and released on January 11. The cause of his collapse still has not been determined.

Subsequently Hamlin has made remarkable progress, and he was discharged from a Buffalo medical center on January 11.

Hamlin was present at the Bills’ divisional round match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 22, in which the Bills lost 27-10.

Earlier this month, Hamlin launched a campaign, in partnership with the American Heart Association, to increase CPR awareness and education.

CNN Sports anchor and former Bills player Coy Wire said the league’s ability to act quickly to administer life-saving CPR to Hamlin is the biggest positive to take away from this NFL season.

“Outside of the highlight reel players, outside of the comebacks we saw, the parity and the competition that brings excitement – 50% of the playoff teams this year were new to the playoffs – aside from that, perhaps the league’s greatest achievement this year was bringing to light the importance of CPR preparedness,” Wire said.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he was proud of the league and team preparations ahead of the “Monday Night Football” game in Buffalo when Hamlin went into cardiac arrest.

“Our players are getting the best care anywhere,” said Goodell at his annual Super Bowl media conference on Wednesday.

“The work that they [health personnel] have invested in by bringing in these great professionals, by bringing in the best of the best did contribute to saving a young man’s life. And I’m incredibly proud of that.”

Hamlin stands near the sidelines during introductions prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 2, 2023.Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images/FILE

‘Profound dedication’

Hamlin was honored on Wednesday as he won the 2023 NFL Players Association Alan Page Community Award.

“I just want to say, ‘thank you’ and just thank God for being here and thank the other guys who was nominated for the award as well who did the work in their community,” Hamlin said.

“Giving back to my community has always been a big part of who I am. Thankful to my father who is right here behind me. Growing up just watching him do community days in our community and I just always waiting on my time when it came.

“I plan to never take this position for granted and always have an urgent approach in making a difference in the community where I come from and also community across the world,” Hamlin added.

The award “recognizes one player who demonstrates a profound dedication to positively impacting his team’s city and communities across the country,” according to the NFLPA.

Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation community toy drive has raised over $9 million as of Saturday.

Evolving

During his media conference, Goodell said total injuries suffered this past season were down by 6% but the league saw an 18% increase in concussions during the 2022 regular season.

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills noted that there were 149 concussions – up from 126 last season – according to the injury data released by the NFL.

Goodell attributed the increase to the league’s “definition of concussions,” which changed during the season.

“We had more evaluations – that’s going lead to more recorded concussions,” said Goodell. “We don’t want concussions to occur, we want to prevent them and we want to treat them, but we are not afraid of having them be diagnosed.”

Goodell added: “We encourage players and coaches and everyone else to come forward when they have symptoms so we can deal with those medically and make sure that they are handled professionally.”

The NFL has been under renewed scrutiny over the issue of concussions this season, beginning on September 25 when Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured during play but was allowed to return to the field.

One of the biggest concerns about repeated blows to the head and concussions is their association with a deadly brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The NFL’s current concussion protocol is triggered if a player receives a blow to the head and exhibits or reports symptoms or signs suggestive of a concussion or stinger – a nerve pinch injury – or key health or athletic personnel initiates the protocol.

The player is removed to the sideline or stabilized on the field and required to undergo testing.

Original Article

Ten Skiers Go Missing After Avalanche – All are Rescued in Christmas Miracle

Police said Monday they believe no one is missing after a Christmas Day avalanche that swept across a ski trail near the town of Zuers in western Austria.

First responders initially assumed as many as 10 people could be buried based on cell phone video from a witness showing the group near the avalanche that covered 500 yards of the trail near the 8,900-foot Trittkopf mountain, police in the Vorarlberg region said in a statement.

One partly buried man was recovered with serious injuries and 200 rescuers were deployed to search the snow mass for more. The Time of London said searchlights were set up in the snow and dogs were being used.

It turned out that several of the people in the video had escaped and skied on down the mountain into the valley without reporting their involvement, and it took hours to track everyone down, police said. Three people suffered minor injuries.

A search was continuing Monday to make sure, but police said that “according to the current state of information, it can be assumed that no further persons are missing.”

The avalanche followed days of heavy snow in the Alps, followed by warm weather on Christmas Day, and the mountain rescue service had rated the avalanche danger as high. The Times reported.

The head of tourism in the Zuers and Lech am Arlberg region, Hermann Fercher, said the avalanche occurred even though explosives had been set off in that area to reduce the risk, the dpa news agency reported. Police said they would be investigating how the accident came about.Searchlights were set up in the snow and dogs were being used to try to find the skiers.

The avalanche occurred in one of Austria’s top ski regions, The Times said, adding that avalanches have killed an average of about 20 people in Austria each year.

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Meet the Marine Who Jumped on a Grenade to Save His Comrades

In 2010, William Kyle Carpenter was fighting in Afghanistan when a grenade was thrown next to him and a fellow Marine. Without hesitation, Carpenter jumped on the grenade to shield his friend and saved his life. However, Carpenter had little chance of his survival. The Marine lance corporal’s body was shattered, one lung collapsed, and the blast took off his eye and most of his jaw.

But he miraculously survived and won the Medal of Honor in 2014, the nation’s highest military award. As a Marine, Carpenter was ready to sacrifice himself for peace, but this moment of selflessness speaks volumes about his character. But he also deserves recognition for what he achieved after the event.

The Youngest Recipient of the Medal of Honor

On November 21, 2010, Carpenter and another Marine, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio were positioned on a rooftop with machine guns during a firefight with Taliban insurgents. That’s when a hand grenade flew to them. Carpenter rushed toward it and took most of the hit, although Eufrazio also suffered injuries. A helicopter came to collect them, and Carpenter was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. He was revived but seemed to die again at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 

Carpenter spent two and half years in the hospital after the grenade attack, his body slowly recovering piece by piece. Despite all of the pain and uncertainty, he maintained a perspective of positivity and gratitude. “I look back and I’m actually very appreciative I had those two and a half years, because those years put things in perspective more than a whole lifetime of things could if I wasn’t there,” Carpenter said in 2014.

That year, he became the eighth living veteran from the war in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the Medal of Honor. President Barack Obama presented him with the award at a ceremony at the White House. He is also the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor, currently 33 years of age. But that is only one of his many accomplishments.

After being on the verge of death three times, he underwent over 40 surgeries to reconstruct his face and body. Part of his post-recovery involved living to the fullest. He has run marathons, sky-dived, received a degree in international studies at the University of South Carolina, and traveled around the United States to promote his book “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.”

Life and Trauma After Being a Marine

The book talks about his experiences leading up to his Medal of Honor, his gratitude for those who aided his recovery, and his inspiration for others to make the most of their lives. He has also raised money for the Fisher House Foundation, which helps provide housing for veterans and families who receive hospital treatments.

One notable section of his book discusses how he suffered from nightmares and hallucinations while on pain medication. His pain and injuries were so intense he couldn’t even eat a bowl of cereal. “Through sobs, I managed to choke out one devastating question: ‘Look at me. Who is ever going to love me again?’ ” Carpenter recalled. It’s a heartbreaking story for a veteran who is known for his enduring optimism and determination. [2]

In a 2019 interview, Carpenter relates that the Marine he saved, Nicholas Eufrazio, is close friend today. However, he adds that are many others who give “such crazy sacrifices for their country” who deserve recognition. Many of them don’t have physical scars like Carpenter. “So many, Nick included, that have traumatic brain injuries. The brain is a beautiful and delicate thing. I encourage people to know that there is trauma, there are people with mental and emotional scars that weigh as heavy as, if not heavier than, the physical scars. If I could not be here and Nick would not have a traumatic brain injury, I would make that trade in a heartbeat. But I have a platform to tell people about traumatic brain injury and encourage them to be not sympathetic, but empathetic.

The Grandest of Journeys

Carpenter is a loud advocate for mental health treatment for veterans and their families with his work with the Headstrong Project, which offers “confidential, barrier-free and stigma-free evidence-based trauma-focused treatment.” He joined the Headstrong board of directors in mid-2021. Conditions like PTSD, depression, insomnia and substance addiction are extremely common among veterans. As of now, the organization treats an average of 1,400 clients a month through 275 clinicians in the U.S.

In 2022, Carpenter spoke as the guest of honor at the San Diego Marines Foundation’s Marine Corps birthday celebration. “Our service and the legacy we helped build and maintain will never fade and will never waiver and just like our enduring legacy, so is our responsibility,” Carpenter said. “…I have learned that any worthy victory can only be achieved through hard work, sacrifice and optimism. And lastly, I learned that the smallest of steps completed the grandest of journeys.”

Man Notices 82-Year-Old Walmart Employee Exhausted at Work and Raises Enough Money So She Can Finally Retire (VIDEO)

Devan Bonagura was just a regular guy, working a day job to pay the bills and playing around on TikTok in his free time. One afternoon while on the job, he saw an elderly woman in the break room at Walmart, exhausted from working on her feet all day.

The woman was well past retirement age — Devan was touched and upset to see that she still had to work so hard instead of being able to enjoy retirement and the fruits of her labor.

He posted a video of her captioned: “Life shouldn’t be this hard…:/ I feel bad.” The video went viral and eventually garnered over 3 million views. Commenters flocked to the post, encouraging Devan to set up a GoFundMe for the employee. Devan did just that, and was stunned by the results. 

Devan continued to share his story online. 24 hours after sharing the GoFundMe he had set up for the Walmart employee, whose name tag said Nola, Devan had already raised $100,000. He was shocked and amazed.

He decided to return to the Superstore to present Nola with the amazing news. He coordinated a surprise with Nola’s daughter and told the women that TikTok had seen her story and banded together to help her. She was grateful but told Devan that $100,000 wasn’t enough for her to retire — she still owed $170,000 on her mortgage, and she would have to work until she was able to pay the whole thing off.

Not to worry — the GoFundMe was up past $200,000 in just a few days. Nola, who is 82 years old, would finally be able to retire!

As soon as Devan posted the video and the GoFundMe, he got a call from the Walmart store manager. The call wasn’t positive. The manager threatened to call the police if Devon didn’t remove the TikTok and the GoFundMe, but Devon refused.

Then, his own employer (a retailer who operates a separate business inside of the Walmart store) suspended Devon with pay while they investigated whether or not the TikToker was in violation of any policies. Devon didn’t let the corporate powers intimidate him — he continued on his path.

In the months since his amazing interaction with Nola, Devan has grown his TikTok and continued to do good deeds, raising more money and helping the homeless.

Devan’s selfless acts have helped many people improve their quality of life, and his own quality of life has improved! We should all strive to be a little bit more like Devan — if we see something that makes us feel bad, we should try to change it.

WATCH SWEET VIDEO BELOW:

@dbon973 WE LOVE YOU NOLA I HOPE THIS HELPS❤️🙏 #blowthisup #fyp #gofundme #nola #walmart #viralvideo ♬ original sound – DBON

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