14 DAY TRIAL // Racing fans keep scouring the news daily, searching for that report which would indicate that Michael Schumacher has awaken from his coma, but sadly, five months since his accident in the French Alps, his conditions remains the same. People are now beginning to wonder if the driver will ever regain consciousness and, if he does, what will be the permanent effects to his health.
It's already been 5 months since Schumacher hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in a mountain resort in the French Alps, and there has been no improvement on his health. His doctors and his spokespeople offer very few and very vague updates, constantly asking fans to respect the family's privacy at this dark time.
The Mirror claims that there is now a significant chance the racing driver could be stuck in a vegetative state forever, after talking to a couple of experts in the field. As Schumacher enters the sixth month of his medically induced coma, the hopes of him ever recovering are dwindling.
Doctor Phillipe Azouvi, a French neurological professor, told Focus Magazine that “statistically, 30 percent of patients recover from a severe brain injury, mild impairments affects 50 percent of them, and 20 percent of them suffer from severe disabilities and remain dependent on constant help.”
This means that, even if Michael pulls through and regains consciousness, he will still have some side-effect he will have to cope with. In cases such as this, it's not uncommon for people to have to learn walking, talking and feeding themselves all over again. Sadly, some never regain part of those abilities.
Doctors would like to stress, however, that each case is different and there is no way to foretell how Schumacher is going to come out of his coma. But the one thing that they are sure of is “But the longer the recovery phase, one must conclude, that the brain damage suffered has been serious.”
In the meantime, his wife, Corinna, 44, and his two children, Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, remain by his side, and reports have speculated that they had a special annex built in their house to accommodate Michael during his recovery.
They have thanked fans for their support as they continue to remain by Michael's bedside at the Grenoble University Hospital. A statement released in January said, “We are deeply touched by all the messages to get well soon for Michael which still are being sent. That gives us strength. Thank you all so much!”
Since then, many people connected with the driver in some ways or simple fans have shown their support and expressed their belief that Michael will pull through aided by his fighting spirit.
But as time passes, more and more people are now saying they hope for a miracle that would bring back the 7-time world champion back to consciousness.