Some positive developments are happening as prayers continue to pour in for Damar Hamlin, the 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on Monday night during a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Bills.

According to Hamlin’s agent, Hamlin opened his eyes and has been holding his family member’s hands in the hospital, the true answer to millions of prayers. Doctors are hopeful that Hamlin will be able to start talking soon. In a press conference held Thursday, doctors said Hamlin is conscious and awake. He even wrote a note to his doctors asking if the Bills won the Monday night game. His doctors replied, “Yes, Damar. You won. You won the game of life.”

According to Dr. Timothy Pritts, division chief of general surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, there has been “substantial improvement” over the past day. He continued, “We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event that happened on the field, but he’s making substantial progress.” Pritts said that Hamlin started waking up on Thursday morning, and “his neurological condition and function are intact.”

“You won Damar. You won the game of life.”

– How the doctors responded after Damar Hamlin communicated through writing, asking them “who won the game?”pic.twitter.com/qflcUgXzGo

— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) January 5, 2023

Although doctors are optimistic, Dr. Pritts said Hamlin is still critically ill and receiving intensive care as doctors explore why he went into cardiac arrest. Hamlin’s agent, Ron Butler, confirmed Hamlin’s positive developments as the Bills were set to start practicing for the first time since his heart stopped during Monday night’s game.

Mario Hamlin, Damar’s father, spoke with the Bills team earlier this week, letting them know he was making progress after the terrifying ordeal. Damar’s teammate, Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, took to social media to thank God for Damar’s improvement. He tweeted, “Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you, God. Keep the prayers coming, please. All love 3!”

The Buffalo Bills also released a statement discussing Damar’s “remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours.” A team statement reads, “Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours. While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal, and he is making steady progress.” The statement concludes, “We are grateful for the love and support we have received.”

Damar’s family says they are also grateful for the support and prayers. Hamlin’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney, said, “They are elated right now. Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this, for him and his family, is going to be incredible.”

When Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during Monday night’s game, it seemed like a regular tackle that we see during football season. However, it became more serious when he had to be revived on the field. Since then, the world has been praying for Damar Hamlin, and it’s a blessing he’s making positive progress. Continue to pray for Damar Hamlin’s health and family during this time.