CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval honored Damar Hamlin's care team at UC Medical Center Thursday with a key to the city.
Dozens of University of Cincinnati Medical Center physicians, nurses, and clinical and non-clinical support staff joined Mayor Pureval and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney for the celebration, representing the thousands of physicians, nurses, and other clinical and non-clinical support staff who provide advanced multidisciplinary care at the hospital every day across 90+ specialties and subspecialties.
Mayor Pureval handed out his fourth key to the city to that medical team. This comes after Hamlin spent a week there getting 24-hour care.
I was at the game on January 2 against the Bills and it was just a gorgeous day. There was so much energy in the stadium. The Bengals started off really hot with a TD and then holding the Bills to a field goal. We were marching down the field again for our second drive, and then tragedy struck,” Mayor Pureval said. “60,000 people in the stadium, everyone was frozen -- frozen in place, frozen in fear, frozen in anxiety -- but for a handful of heroes who rushed to the field and, in front of a live national audience, saved Damar Hamlin’s life.
Many fans from both teams came to the hospital to pray for Hamlin.
Inside the hospital, the incredible staff went to work and saved his life.
Mayor Pureval says this incident could not have happened at a better place, and that the professionals at UC represent the absolute best in their field. He added that the City of Cincinnati is grateful for the heroic, expert care they offer patients every single day.
“While Damar Hamlin’s case was noteworthy because it was on national television, it was not noteworthy for the care that he got, because every single person, whether you're a professional athlete or someone just off the street, receives the same kind of professional, first-in-class care that takes place here at UC," the mayor said.
As for the team at UC, the recognition is a great honor.
“You don't want something like this to happen, you know, but it did on a national stage, and I think the highlight, and to just to let them be noticed for what they truly do on a daily basis,” said Rob Wiehe, executive vice president and COO of UC Health said. “He [Hamlin] was at the right place for sure, and we wish him continued health, and then just in his recovery.”
UC Medical Center is Greater Cincinnati’s only verified Level 1 adult trauma center.