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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Five feel-good moments from incredible Damar Hamlin saga

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 1/6/23

The saga of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin continues to captivate millions.

On Monday night in Cincinnati, the Buffalo safety collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest, a moment that horrified millions watching.

By Friday, he had made remarkable progress in his recovery, the Bills tweeted, but a medical team cautioned he has many phases ahead, via CNN.com. Hamlin remains in a Cincinnati hospital.

Here are five unforgettable moments from the week.

Bills assistant gives CPR on the field

One of the story's biggest heroes is Bills assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington. After Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, Kellington quickly provided him CPR.

Kellington is a lifesaver, Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said.

Sean McDermott on assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who administered life-saving CPR on Damar Hamlin: “The courage that that took…you talk about a real leader, a real hero in saving Damar’s life. I just admire his strength.” pic.twitter.com/96TLYa0FdM
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 5, 2023

Hamlin's toy drive brings in $8 million ... and counting

Hamlin's "Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive" grew in popularity as news of his condition spread. The charitable effort started with the goal of receiving $2,500, a number that skyrocketed to well over $1 million Monday night.

By Friday afternoon, it had cleared $8 million ... and counting.

"Who won the game?"

After regaining consciousness in the hospital earlier this week, doctors told reporters that Hamlin wrote on a piece of paper asking who had won the game. He had a breathing tube in at the time and couldn't talk.

"You won," the doctors responded, via Cincinnati.com. "You won the game of life."

FaceTimes teammates

On Friday, Hamlin FaceTimed teammates after his breathing tube had been removed.

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

Support from everywhere

Per CNN, 23.8 million viewers tuned into "Monday Night Football," the most since ESPN began televising the game in 2006. CNN reported the game began by drawing 21.1 million viewers, but that number increased as the audience awaited updates on Hamlin's condition.

The Bills-Bengals game was set to be the biggest regular-season game of the year. The game was canceled. Who cares? It kicked off a week that revealed the best in all of us.

For Damar Hamlin and the @BuffaloBills family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/n7UxObTLt8
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 4, 2023

The waters of Niagara Falls were lit Buffalo Bills blue this week, in tribute to the team's safety Damar Hamlin pic.twitter.com/3m30krspme
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 6, 2023

Dylan Sadiq, also known as "The College Cuber," used Rubik’s Cubes to create a tribute to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after the football player collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. pic.twitter.com/nlxl2EslTN
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 4, 2023

A moment of tribute for Damar Hamlin. pic.twitter.com/GYM5strsNS
— Heather Engel (@engelheather) January 5, 2023

#49ers Levi’s Stadium pays #DamarHamlin tribute — and Bay Area weather supplies a rainbow, too pic.twitter.com/2OCAuXmTCf
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 4, 2023

The crowd at the Pete gives a standing ovation for Damar Hamlin as tributes from around the country are shown on the jumbotron. pic.twitter.com/qY8JhdNE6d
— stephen thompson (@stephenethom) January 4, 2023

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