Tributes continue to pour in as the former world champion remains in a coma.
Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo says he struggles to come to terms former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher may never be the same again.
Schumacher has been left in a medically induced come for more than two months, after he smashed his head against rocks while skiing with his family in France on December 29, 2013.
Di Montezemolo said he cannot believe that one of his closest friends still fights for his life at Grenoble University Hospital, despite the best efforts of a team of neurologists .
“Michael was and still is a very important person in my life. From 1996 onwards so many things happened in the lives of both of us and, in the difficult times, Michael was always incredibly close to the team,” he said.
“What’s happened to him was a real shock to me, after all the events we shared and a great affection still remains. Michael at the moment needs that affection and support from everyone.”
Schumacher has been operated on twice since being in medical care to alleviate swelling inside of his skill and to remove some blood clots, with others left as they were too deeply embedded.
Last month, doctors began the slow process of ‘waking’ Schmacher from his coma by reducing the level of drugs that are keeping him under.
Experts have warned this process could take months and could be stopped at anytime if they feel there is a chance of further damage to the seven-time world champion’s brain.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna, who has been at her husbands bedside since the accident, spent her 45th birthday on Sunday – again right by her fallen partner’s side.
His daughter Gina-Maria, 17, son Mick, 14, brother Ralf and father Rolf spent eight hours last weekend with Corinna at his bedside, talking to him in the faint hope that some of what they said would get through to him.
Experts say that the barbiturates and other powerful narcotics that have been keeping him under should now have left his body entirely.
The fact that he has not woken up only serves to fuel fears that he mad by left in a permanent vegetative state for the rest of his life.
