Will Michael Schumacher ever recover? Exposing the conflicting reports of his recovery
Nearly ten years have passed since the Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident in the French Alps. On December 29, 2013, Schumacher fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing with his then-teenage son Mick. He sustained life-threatening injuries from the fall and has since been undergoing medical treatment for recovery.
Today, he leads a tight-knit private life with his family and it is uncertain whether he will fully recover.
On July 20, 2022, North-Rhine-Westphalia awarded the State Prize (the highest honor for a German civilian) to Schumacher in recognition of his achievements. His wife Corinna accepted the award on his behalf and said in her acceptance speech:
“Everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he’s here and that gives us strength. We try to carry on a family as Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. ‘Private is private’, as he always said. It is very important to me that he enjoys his private life.”
Michael Schumacher underwent stem-cell therapy surgery in September 2019 to treat an unknown illness
Michael Schumacher, who was 44 years old at the time, gravely injured his head in the accident despite wearing a helmet. He was directly airlifted to Grenoble Hospital for treatment and remained in critical condition after undergoing two ‘life-saving’ surgeries. Doctors later said that the helmet kept him alive.
He initially retained consciousness before slipping into a coma. Reports also detailed a traumatic brain injury along with brain swelling, hemorrhage, lesions, and blood clots, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention.
In order to reduce the swelling in the brain, Schumacher was kept in a medically induced coma for more than three months and was eventually transferred to the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland for further rehabilitation.
By April 2014, he was removed from the medically induced coma after he showed signs of minor improvement and was able to retain moments of consciousness. A few months later, Schumacher moved into their family home in Lake Geneva, Switzerland where he has been treated since then.
“Henceforth, Michael’s rehabilitation will take place at his home. Considering the severe head injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months. There is still, however, a long and difficult road ahead,” read the family’s statement.
In September 2019, Schumacher underwent stem-cell therapy surgery at Georges-Pompidou Hospital, Paris to ‘receive an anti-inflammatory stem cell perfusion’. But it is not known for what ailment the treatment was given as his family has yet to disclose the details.
Michael Schumacher’s lawyer confirmed that he ‘cannot walk’ and could only ‘raise an arm’
After the German magazine, Bunte, falsely claimed that Schumacher could walk again in 2016, his family lawyer was compelled to confirm in court that he ‘cannot walk’. In a lawsuit against the magazine, attorney Felix Damm explained that Schumacher could only raise an arm and walk a few steps with the help of his therapists.
Schumacher’s agent, Sabine Kehm, also released a statement, saying:
“Unfortunately, we are forced by a recent press report to clarify that the assertion that Michael could move again is not true. Such speculation is irresponsible because, given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important. They also give false hopes to many involved people.”
It was reported earlier that Schumacher was paralyzed and wheelchair-bound following the accident, on top of having ‘memory problems’ and difficulty speaking. However, his family did not comment on the news.
Moreover, Schumacher’s wife Corinna is fiercely protective of him and his privacy, only allowing a few people to visit him. His former manager Willi Weber accused her of ‘hiding the truth’ of his recovery, saying:
“I’d like to know how he’s doing and shake hands or stroke his face. But unfortunately, this is rejected by Corinna. She probably fears that I will immediately recognize what is going on and make the truth public.”
On the other hand, Jean Todt, the former manager at Ferrari and a family friend of the Schumachers, stated that he was making progress and was “well looked after” in his house.
“I’m always careful with such statements, but it’s true. I saw the race together with Michael Schumacher at his home in Switzerland. Michael is in the best hands… He does not give up and keeps fighting,” said Todt.
