Moving words from friend Jean Todt: Schumi: Trapped in his own body for ten years

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Even after ten years or 120 months, his fans won’t agree: “We’ve been with him for years, so we want to know what’s going on with him.” Or: ‘Finally leave the family alone.’

So all that remains is speculation, even though hope has long been an empty word.

522 weeks without hope

Schumi’s former Ferrari companion and ex-FIA president Jean Todt (77) is one of the few people who can regularly visit the seven-time world champion.

And the old optimist (“We will certainly welcome Michael back to the race tracks”) has all but ruled out an improvement in Schumi’s health after 522 weeks.

“He’s a different Michael”

Todt’s moving words on the Formula 1 portal: “He is no longer the Michael we know from Formula 1. But he is here, so I don’t miss him!” The Frenchman, who married Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (62) in Geneva in July 2023: “Michael is different now, fortunately he is wonderfully guided and protected by his family at home!”

Todt: “Unfortunately, disaster struck ten years ago. Michael is a different person – and I have the privilege of sharing a few moments with Michael. That’s all there is to say.”

No more “miracles”.

Fortunately, the stupid articles from the internet and the colorful newspaper forest have disappeared: “He is no longer with us!” – “He can walk again!” – “World sensation: the first interview!”. The Schumacher family lawyers have had enough work over the past decade.

But we also remember before his accident, when the 91-time GP winner banned the media for years from mentioning the names of his two children Mick (24) and Gina Maria (26). And threatened to call lawyers.

The medical records and the death

Many doctors have dealt with the ‘Schumacher case’ – and the consequences of his fall on a rock remained secret. Yes, at first even the Swiss citizen’s medical files were stolen in Lausanne – and offered to the media for 50,000 euros. Nobody hit.

A German Rega employee soon became suspicious. And a day after his arrest, the 54-year-old man hanged himself in the Zurich police prison on August 5, 2014.

Vegetative state or entrapped syndrome

What was in these files? The speculation, which has never been stopped by the Schumacher family’s silence, has been limited for years to a vegetative state or ‘locked-in’ syndrome.

While the functions of the cerebrum are severely impaired in a vegetative state, the brain stem is largely intact. With lock-in syndrome it is exactly the opposite. Brain functions are preserved here. On the other hand, there is serious damage to the brain stem.

Massa: “Michael blinked!”

Michael Schumacher’s many doctors, physiotherapists and nurses had to remain silent. Also the few visitors, such as Schumi’s Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa (42) a few years ago.

The Brazilian said after meeting Michael: “Somehow I felt like he was winking at me!” A sentence that no one attached much importance to at the time.

Pen in the skull?

But that would fit with the lock-in syndrome: there is almost complete paralysis… But the patients can move their eyes up and down. And blink.

Ten years ago, two emergency operations kept Michael Schumacher alive, who survived seventeen serious Formula 1 accidents with a broken leg (at Silverstone in 1999). During the tragedy 3652 days ago in Méribel (Friday), a pin from his helmet camera reportedly drilled into the top of his skull.

Hardly any sympathy anymore

After ten years, what is left of global consternation and sympathy? Almost nothing anymore. The ‘Keep Fighting’ stickers on the GP cars are long gone.

Great compassion is stored in the drawer of indifference. Schumi now fights almost alone with his family, who do not let the name of the former hero be forgotten with documentaries on Netflix and now on ARD. They just want to keep their health status a secret.

Will he be happy at Alpine?

And son Mick can bury his dream (“I want to become world champion in a Ferrari like my father”) after two mixed years at Haas (2021/2022). Just like a year ago, there was no new Formula 1 contract under the Christmas tree a few days ago.

The young man who was involved in the skiing accident ten years ago has to say goodbye to Alpine at the Endurance World Championships (with the classic Le Mans). The job as a substitute at Mercedes can be seen as a legacy from his father Michael Schumacher.

Schumi will soon be 55

Michael Schumacher’s birthday is January 3, 2024. He will be 55 years old. And a sentence from Mick from 2022 will accompany the tragedy to the end: “I would give anything to talk to my father!”

Source : Blick