The Buffalo Bills player collapsed to the ground after being tackled during his team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023
Damar Hamlin’s newest tattoo holds a special meaning.
The NFL star, 25, commemorated the one-year anniversary of his on-field cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals by getting a heart hands tattoo on the back of his neck.
The new piece of ink — debuted on celebrity tattoo artist Alexander Brenes’ Instagram page — features hands making the shape of a heart with an electrocardiogram at its center.
Brenes shared a close-up of the tattoo and an image of the process, writing in the caption, “1 year later still locked inn 🫶🏽.” Hamlin commented, “🫶🏾🥉🪽.”
The football player also reflected on his on-field health scare anniversary by penning a message on a GoFundMe created to benefit a toy drive sponsored by his Chasing M’s Foundation.
“As a donor to my charity, I didn’t want to let the New Year begin without reaching out personally to thank you. This past year has been an incredible journey for my family and I, and the growth of my charity — through the generosity of people like you — is a great blessing to me. In addition to returning to the NFL this fall, I’ve spent time creating the mission of my charity, which is focused on empowering youth and lifting up people who face adversity,” his message read.
He shared some of his foundation’s additional charitable efforts from the past year, which included hosting community events and launching a scholarship program.
“One of the things that has inspired me most is the real-life stories of people who were inspired to be CPR trained because of my experience, then turned around and saved the life of another this year,” added Hamlin in his message.
Hamlin returned for his first regular season game in October when they took on the Miami Dolphins, as part of the Bills’ special teams for kick returns.
“I think it was more so about promising to myself than anything else, just showing myself that I have the courage, I have the strength, that I have the pride, everything, all those words, in me to be able to go through something traumatic and to be able to come back from it. To be able to still do what I love at the highest level in the world is amazing,” he said after his team’s 48-20 win, per the Associated Press.
Hamlin and the Bills are hoping to snag one of the last remaining playoff spots this Sunday when they again face the Miami Dolphins.
