(CNN) — Just days after his stunning on-field cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said on Instagram he was thankful for the love he’s received and asked for continued prayers for a “long road” ahead.
“When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much,” he wrote in his first Instagram post since his collapse Monday. “The Love has been overwhelming, but I’m thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out.”
“If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger,” he added. “On a long road keep praying for me!”
Later Saturday, he added on Twitter the “love is felt, & extremely real. No matter race or religion everybody coming together in prayer.”
Hamlin is breathing on his own and speaking to family, physicians and teammates — positive updates Bills players say will bolster them in this weekend’s matchup against the New England Patriots.
“To hear him talk to us, it was everything, and that’s what we needed. Literally that’s all we needed,” Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins said of the team’s Friday video call with Hamlin, who is still undergoing treatment at a Cincinnati hospital.
Hamlin — who was sedated and placed on a ventilator after his collapse — began awakening late this week and was able to have his breathing tube removed before Friday morning, physicians have said.
“Love you boys,” the 24-year-old player told his team Friday via FaceTime, according to head coach Sean McDermott, who added that Hamlin flexed his arms and made his signature heart-shaped hand gesture during the call.
Hamlin’s verified Instagram account also posted a screengrab of himself on a video call from the hospital with rapper Meek Mill and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on Saturday, around the same time his first message since Monday was posted. All three men are seen smiling in the screengrab of the three-way video call, which was posted as an Instagram story.
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Damar Hamlin FaceTimed into our team meeting today to talk to players and coaches.
What he said to the team: “Love you boys.” pic.twitter.com/8dorrWNaxt
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 6, 2023
