The Michael Schumacher Career/Injury/Recovery Thread

I think the hospital is simply quiet right now. Further, our resident Frenchman ("Nerofer") has already noted that their medical privacy laws (policies?) etc are a lot different to here in the States.

I'm sticking with the "no news is good news" theory. He's hanging in there, he's obviously fighting and he's got the best possible care. Nothing else to report right now.

One expert comment above intimated that his age may also work in his favor - Apparently our brains shrink some with age (I know mine has! ) and that could well be a good thing in this scenario.

Godspeed Michael!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Some perspective from Richard Hammond, who has been through a similar injury:
Michael Schumacher coma takes Richard Hammond back to his own brush with death - Mirror Online



The Top Gear presenter and Mirror columnist suffered catastrophic head injuries of his own in a 288mph crash during filming for the BBC show

If learning of Michael Schumacher’s ski accident was shocking for Richard Hammond, it was even worse for his wife Mindy.

Mindy spent two weeks fearing the worst at her husband’s bedside as he fought for survival.

And Richard, 44, said hearing about the Formula 1 legend also lying in hospital in a coma – with his wife Corinna, 44 by his side – had taken her back to that terrible time in 2006.

“Mindy’s face fell when she heard about Michael because it stirs memories for her more than it does for me,” said Richard.

“She is immediately taken back to what happened to me more than I am because I was in a coma. It’s very hard for those around the injured person.

“My heart goes out to his family and everyone around him because they can’t do anything but hope he gets better.”

Schumacher, 44, is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering head injuries in Meribel in the French Alps on Sunday.

The retired ace needed an operation to relieve swelling on his brain and was put in an induced coma like Mirror columnist Richard. Now it is a waiting game to see how he reacts.

Richard, who met the star when he was jokingly revealed as The Stig on Top Gear in 2009, has been following his progress closely.

He said: “It’s hard to hear it has happened to Michael because we met on the show and because of what he does. I’m praying he comes out of the coma soon and can begin on the road to recovery.

“He is an incredible, enjoyable man. But it’s the cleverness that gets you. You don’t do what Michael does, at the level he’s done it, without being pretty sharp.”

It is these qualities that will help Schumacher get well again, Richard said. “He’s ferociously intelligent. I’m sure, God willing, he’ll very quickly be able to understand what’s happened.”

Richard was driving a jet-powered dragster which veered off the track at Elvington airfield, near York, and flipped over at 288mph. He was put in an induced coma, and kept in hospital for five weeks.

He has no memory of the accident and it took years of rehabilitation to come to terms with it.

He said: “It is once you wake up that the journey starts. It’s about accepting and understanding what happened. But you’re trying to use the very thing that’s injured to understand the nature of the injury.”

Richard suffered post-traumatic amnesia and even forgot wife Mindy, before chatting her up in hospital.

“If you’re subtly changed for a while you’re not aware of it because it is you,” he said.

“Michael’s family will need all the support in the world because there is very little they can do but stand by and watch as his brain gets round to fixing itself.”

Richard struggled to differentiate between “injured Richard” and “real Richard” for years.

“At first I’d be thinking ‘this is because of my head injury,’” he said.

“Now I think, whether it’s because of my head injury or not it’s because of me – my injury is part of who I am. And that’s founded on 44 years of experiences.”

It is thanks to this realisation – which is in part down to top neurosurgeon, the late Professor Sid Watkins – that Richard learned to “file” his accident away.

He said: “I interviewed Professor Watkins and he said: ‘Look, Richard. If they tell you it’s two years until you’re completely better, forget it. It can be four, it can be six – it’s a life’s journey.’

“And I took that to heart because I was still wrestling with it. I realised if you’re lucky enough, and physically well, you can put it behind you.

“I can’t say enough how it has been filed away with the other big things that happened in my life. It’s a great place to be in. I hope beyond hope that something similar will happen with Michael, that he recovers and can eventually file it away.

"He’s a fabulous man. I just hope he pulls through.”

 

And of course, Jeremy Clarkson adds the comic relief from twitter

"The worrying thing about brain injuries is that you can recover only to find you're a midget with a marked Birmingham accent when drunk. In other words, it's possible after even a big brain bang to go back to exactly how you were before."

 

A report just popped onto Google that they have operated for a second time. Hopefully it's inaccurate.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-michael-schumacher-operated-second-time-after-suffering-brain-haemorrhage-in-ski-accident-1942860

 

God bless...

 

It is probably a mixture of both scenarios. This is the “norm” in the entirety of the trauma medicine community (not just the French). There are too many variables in the short term window following severe trauma (especially brain injury) to make any predictions as to long term outcome ---- too often too many things can change for the worse in a completely unforeseeable manner. So, there is some degree of presenting worst case scenario going on as a matter of protocol. There is also, very understandably, a bit of covering your ass going on ---- with such a high profile patient, much scrutiny is on his medical providers performance --- and they don’t want to be perceived as the folks who were on watch when things went south after they had told the world that “we are optimistic”. Remember that, unless he has been directly consulted, even the best neurosurgeon in the world, at home sitting on his sofa, knows less than the perhaps lesser expert Docs who are actually attending to the patient and have seen the details of the case first hand.

This is the term one wants to never hear from an attending physician --- "grave" / "extremely grave". As it represents the most negative context that can be used in a clinical description of a patient's condition. It is an order of magnitude worse than "critical".

At this point, this really appears to be a , "hope for the best, but plan for the worst" situation .

 

I just feel horrible for his 14 year old son who was with him. Yes, he's a hero to us but you know that poor kid is destroyed right now. Just a terrible deal.

 

Sounds like a repeat of the false rumor that was flying around last night. They're a bit behind...

 

Yes...the story was posted 15 hours ago. We need to be careful with internet media reports, as some "journalists" are seemingly taking liberty with terms, facts and timing due to the worldwide interest in this incident. The story I posted earlier (quoting his physician) seems to be similar to another story, except 'his situation is extremely critical' was replaced with 'his situation is extremely grave". Those terms are not synonomous or interchangeable. That is irresponsible journalism.

Keep the positive energy coming...

 

Apparently so am I! I have to stop checking google for updates and just wait for good news when it hopefully arrives.

 

It was $10M. I was floored. I think it was the largest private donation from an individual.

 

And unlike most pro athletes, Michael did not hold a press conference to announce this. It wasn't made public until the German press found out and made a story of it months after it happened.

Joe

 

Didn't Tiger Woods donate $25MM or so to Elin Nordegrin??

 

First time I've smiled all day, thanks!

Same age as Richard too. Can't wait for them to welcome him back on Topgear!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Thanks Doc.

As a rehab professional with 20 years experience working with neurologically impaired adults I can only say bad head injuries are bad. I hope for the best but fear the world may have to embrace a very different Michael going forward. Humans are delicate, life is precious and unconditional love conquers all.

Peace to all in the new year.

M

 

Prayers and thoughts are with Schumi and his family for speedy recovery.

God bless.

 

Thank you. And yes, i am sure he is already fighting it and will surprise us all.

 

Wow, this is surreal. So young, so talented, balls of steel and a fine man. Not fair.
It all sounds rather grim right now but if well wishes and prayers are worth anything he will recover.
Go Schumi, you can do it!

 

Definitely a surreal feeling. I couldn't get enough of him pummeling the competition when he raced for the Scuderia. Been watching Schumi-themed vids on YouTube all day.

 

Iam completely gutted to hear that "My Hero Michael" is in this condition. Iam 56 and not ashamed to call him that and proud to have witnessed his greatness in person a few times in Montreal.I liked his intensity toward his sport and his display of joy on the podium. I would have loved to have met him in person as he really seemed to be a cool guy to be around.
Iam not a religious person per say but he and his family are in my thoughts. Like others have mentioned if anyone can come through this it WILL be Schumi. God bless him and his family.

 

Been following this thread from the very first post. I've read every one. This is my first post. I understand that there are some very highly regarded and intelligent members on this forum. Their explanations of Schuey's injuries are detailed and paint a pretty grim outlook. I understand he is in a very bad situation, but he hasn't left us yet!!

My head is telling me to prepare for the worst, but my heart is telling me he will eventually pull through. Schuey has 'win at all costs' hard wired into his DNA. It will be one heck of a battle, one that my gut is telling me he will overcome.

Respect must go out to his family and close friends that are by his bedside. To speculate the worst is just not fair. Yes, the facts are out there, but it's not an exact science. Until we know otherwise, we all must have faith and believe that he will recover, maybe not 100%, but enough to watch his children grow up and enjoy life the only way he knows how!

My heart goes out to his family, I wish them the strength they need to get through this.

C'mon Schuey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This absolutely breaks my heart. I have spent so much time admiring this man for his heroics on the race track. He has lived a life that most could only dream of living. I hope for his families sake that he pulls through and can continue to be the father/husband he has been. Defiantly in my top 5 most admired athletes. Get well Schumi.

 

Taken during his talk at Quail.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I barely slept last night, just about 4 hours of sleep. My dad is completely gutted. He repeated the same words....'i can't believe he driver over 300 km/h, with no problems and issue, and a simple family outing and next thing he's fighting for his life...'

However, i think we need to calm down, and let MS recover by himself. This guy is built with a winning mindset. I doubt he's gonna give up easily. He didn't become 7 times WDC for nothing.

He'll get through this i'm sure. I just hate to open the news to read that everyone is saying negative things, ie. grave situation, he was racing, he was taking things on his own hands at the skiing resort, etc, when in actual fact, no one knows anything about his current medical situation.

Stay strong Schumi. I had the pleasure of meeting you twice, and it struck me how humble he is.

 

We all hope and pray that Michael survives this frightful accident and makes a FULL recovery. Most of us have never experienced such trauma, however my greatest fear would be to survive but to be left in a state of vegetation. Perhaps not being able to communicate nor lead a normal life. To a sportsman and athlete such as Michael this would be so cruel. I am not speculating but comment purely from the limited updates we have all read and it is my opinion this could be the likely outcome. He has bought much happiness to many people so lets hope someone up there repays this.