German driving ace said to be responding well to treatment.
Former Formula One star Michael Schumacher is gradually being brought out of his artificial coma after his skiing accident according to the latest reports from France.
Information regarding the German’s hero’s health has been a closely kept secret with his family and management team careful not to fan the flames of speculation.
However, French newspaper L’Equipe, reports that Schumacher, who has been in the coma since his fell and his his head during a skiing trip on December 29 last year, was reacting well to treatment despite still being listed as critical but stable.
Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said the former Ferrari star’s medial team were preparing to bring him out of his induced coma slowly, after he showed positive signs towards treatment earlier in the week.
“Michael’s sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process which may take long time,” Kehm said.
“For the protection of the family, it was originally agreed by the interested parties to communicate this information only once this process was consolidated.”
Surgeons have performed two operations to remove blood clots around the brain and to relieve the pressure created after Schumacher’s head his the rock in the resort of Meribel.
Schumacher’s medical team has ruled out giving a prognosis for their patient, but the case has prompted comment from several other prominent neurosurgeons around the world.
Professor Jean-Luc Truelle, the former head of the neurology department of the Foch hospital in Suresnes said a month is “the maximum period before entering into this phase” of coming out of an artificial coma.
He said the process would begin with a sedation phase, then the patient opens his eyes followed by the “re-establishment of some kind of communication, which we verify through simple commands,” such as “open your eyes, shut your eyes, squeeze your hand”.
Current Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel says he still prays for a miracle and that his close friend will return to the world as everybody knew him.
“He’s still in a coma and we still don’t know what shape he will be in when he wakes up, which is horrible, especially for his family and close friends, not knowing what is going to happen,” Vettel said.
“I’m still as shocked as everybody else, and I pray and hope the miracle will happen, he will come back and be the person he was before.”
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