Michael Schumacher Suffers Serious Head Injury

ZiabR · 11-02-2014 12:30pm

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Latest article from Gary Hartstein - http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/what-should-we-be-thinking-now/

Dont know what to make of that. Good or bad

SnowDrifts · 11-02-2014 12:34pm

logik wrote: »

Dont know what to make of that. Good or bad

Was thinking the same. Erring on the side of it being negative unfortunately.

ZiabR · 11-02-2014 12:37pm

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Was thinking the same. Erring on the side of it being negative unfortunately.

Yeah it seems that way. Hope we are wrong.

stevenmu · 11-02-2014 1:15pm

It seems to be conflicted based on conflicting information from the Bild article.

I haven't read the actual Bild article, but from what I can tell they seem to have claimed that Michael is both breathing independently of a ventilator and not responding to external stimuli. My understanding of Gary's post then is that breathing independently indicates brain stem activity which is very good, but not responding to stimuli indicates no brain stem activity which is very bad.

So there's an obvious conflict there, it seems like there's either good news or bad news, but again there's no official confirmed information so we don't really know.

SnowDrifts · 13-02-2014 6:16pm

"Michael Schumacher's family reveal they strongly believe F1 legend will recover" http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/9164774/michael-schumachers-family-reveal-they-strongly-believe-f1-legend-will-recover

lolie · 13-02-2014 6:21pm

Plenty of rumors in the media that he contracted pneumonia. The family released a statement today, they strongly believe he'll recover.

“Michael’s family would like to again express their sincere thanks for the continuous sympathy coming from all over the world. The good wishes they receive help the family and, we are convinced they also help Michael, who still is in a waking up process.

“As often in such situation, no day is like the next. The family is thankful for one’s understanding that they would not wish to disclose medical details in order to protect Michael’s privacy. As assured from the beginning we will continue to communicate any decisive new information on Michael’s health state. We are aware that the wake up phase can take a long time.

“The family continues to strongly believe in Michael’s recovery and place all their trust in the doctors’, nurses’ and nursing auxiliaries’ team. The important thing is not the speed of the recovery but that Michael’s heal process progresses in a continuous and controlled way."

Frank Bullitt · 13-02-2014 6:56pm

Pneumonia, or any lung condition is quite common when a patient has been on a respirator for such a long time.

I still have belief that he will survive this.

ZiabR · 14-02-2014 10:11am

I believe he will survive alright but its the level of life he will have, that has me worried.

robinwing · 14-02-2014 3:03pm

BERLIN: Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, lying in a coma in a French hospital since a December skiing accident, has overcome a lung infection, German daily Bild reported on Friday.

The newspaper had reported two days earlier that Schumacher had contracted pneumonia last week, but it said Friday that the infection in fact had happened earlier and "this week no longer spells an acute danger".

"Therefore Schumi has already won the fight against pneumonia," said the top-selling daily, using the popular nickname for the 45-year-old German racing driver.

Hope that this report is true

Max_Charger · 14-02-2014 4:37pm

robinwing wrote: »

German daily Bild reported

Do people realise that's the German equivalent of The Sun newspaper? It's a rag, it will invent stories for the sake of stories. Not to be trusted at all.

Kristopherus · 14-02-2014 4:46pm

Max_Charger wrote: »

Do people realise that's the German equivalent of The Sun newspaper? It's a rag, it will invent stories for the sake of stories. Not to be trusted at all.

Given the fact that they did'nt really know when Schumacher contracted pneumonia, I would treat anything that they publish with disdain:(.

robinwing · 20-02-2014 2:21pm

Felipe Massa has spoken about a visit he made to Michael Schumacher in hospital in Grenoble.

Schumacher remains in a coma following his skiing accident in late December, with doctors reducing his sedation in an attempt to wake him. Massa revealed that he had visited Schumacher ahead of the second test in Bahrain and that he is hopeful that his former Ferrari team-mate will make a good recovery.

“I always try to be optimistic,” Massa said. “I saw him, I talked to him, I was telling him everything I did in Jerez – about my car, the new team and everything – I was telling him to wake up many times… I'm positive. I think we need to believe. He's a very strong man, a very great man and I really hope he can wake up and I really hope he can enjoy his life again.

“It's always very difficult to say because I have zero experience about what the doctors say. I saw him and I was very happy to be together with him for a very long time, talking to him and trying to give the best energy and just help him.”

Asked how Schumacher looked when he visited, Massa said he took hope from what he saw but stressed he couldn't give any predictions or updates on his condition.

“He's sleeping and I was very positive because he was normal. He looks normal and he also gave some reactions with the mouth and everything. So it's positive to look at him. But I have no experience to say anything. I'm not a doctor. But when I saw him, for me, it looked very positive.” ( Source is crash.net motor racing website )

robinwing · 20-02-2014 6:57pm

Felipe Massa is a truly decent man , ha says he prays daily for M Schumacher , its when the s~~t hits the fan you find out who your friends really are

porsche959 · 24-02-2014 2:32pm

Latest from former F1 doc:

http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/perplexity/

stevenmu · 24-02-2014 3:27pm

Some very strong words there. I wouldn't agree with his use of the words "shameful" and "arrogant", I think that's being very harsh on his family who are in a very difficult and painful situation.

But with that said, it would be nice to get more news and details. I know I'm quite emotional about the situation, far more so than I would have thought I would be for someone I have never actually met, and I suspect many others are too

24-02-2014 3:52pm

stevenmu wrote: »

But with that said, it would be nice to get more news and details. I know I'm quite emotional about the situation, far more so than I would have thought I would be for someone I have never actually met, and I suspect many others are too

The "sting" has been taken out of it for me. Kinda accepted a while back that it's not going to be good. Would obviously love to get a good surprise in the next while.

Peanut Butter Jelly · 24-02-2014 4:25pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The "sting" has been taken out of it for me. Kinda accepted a while back that it's not going to be good. Would obviously love to get a good surprise in the next while.

I'm beginning to lose respect for Gary. In the beginning he was saying to ignore reports in the papers and that we had to wait for the family to make a statement. Now he's constantly saying we need information otherwise Michael's family are disrespecting the fans that "put him on a pedestal". I'm sorry, but that is hypocritical.

And what is the difference between the papers posting from their sources saying X, Y, and Z have happened and Gary saying that A, B, and/or C is happening as we speak. Question, if the Daily Mail read that piece and ran a story saying "Leading Anaesthetist Says Schumacher Might Not Recover" with quotes from Hartstein's piece, could he complain about the Daily Mail spreading rumours?

greedygoblin · 24-02-2014 4:45pm

stevenmu wrote: »

Some very strong words there. I wouldn't agree with his use of the words "shameful" and "arrogant", I think that's being very harsh on his family who are in a very difficult and painful situation.

But with that said, it would be nice to get more news and details. I know I'm quite emotional about the situation, far more so than I would have thought I would be for someone I have never actually met, and I suspect many others are too

Same here. I'm very surprised at the tone of the article from Gary. It's borderline accusatory, which given the circumstances, is very unfair. It may very well be the case that Michael's family are preparing for the worst, in which case the last thing they need is to create another media circus by announcing the treatment is not working. Of course, I'm still hoping for a positive outcome. However, as somebody mentioned in the comments to Mr Hartstein's article, if the family did indeed have any good news to share, I'm pretty sure they would report it. Let's keep the fingers crossed.

24-02-2014 4:56pm

When it comes down to it it's the family's business.

RayM · 24-02-2014 5:34pm

His family obviously have infinitely more important things to think about, but his PR people should probably be more communicative with his fans. Even if that communication just involves a scheduled weekly update on his condition (whether changes have taken place or not), it would at least stop the media from inventing stuff.

I really hope I'm wrong, but I can't help feeling that this is the most relevant part of that blog entry:

If Michael is not breathing on his own, and is (as we suspect) not showing signs of purposeful interaction with his environment (I am ignoring the mouth movements of which Felipe Massa spoke), AND if there is imaging and functional evidence of extensive and irreversible brainstem damage, Michael’s doctors will discuss withdrawing treatment with the family, as under these circumstances there is essentially no chance of recovery. It is possible that this discussion has already happened.

I strongly, strongly doubt that Schumacher's fans are being denied good news.

ZiabR · 24-02-2014 5:50pm

RayM wrote: »

I strongly, strongly doubt that Schumacher's fans are being denied good news.

Would agree here. There is no reason to hold good news back from the public eye. You would have to be worried at this stage. We have had no real news about him for quite awhile.

v3ttel · 24-02-2014 6:05pm

RayM wrote: »

His family obviously have infinitely more important things to think about, but his PR people should probably be more communicative with his fans. Even if that communication just involves a scheduled weekly update on his condition (whether changes have taken place or not), it would at least stop the media from inventing stuff.

I really hope I'm wrong, but I can't help feeling that this is the most relevant part of that blog entry:

I strongly, strongly doubt that Schumacher's fans are being denied good news.

A lot of what I'm about to say may be as much me hoping that that is bollocks as much as anything else, but is there really a relevant part of that blog entry? Even just looking at the structure of what he is saying:
"IF <this> and <this> AND <that>, it is possible that <whatever>"

I don't see what benefit speculation like this has. He may well be accurate, but it is all complete speculation. It doesn't benefit anyone in any way. I don't see how this helpful to Michael, his family or the fans. I highly doubt scheduled updates would cut out speculation, as is the nature of the media. There would be speculation no matter what.

It would be nice if everyone would leave them alone as they've been asked to. The family deserve privacy. The doctors deserve to be left alone to treat him to the very best of their ability. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

greedygoblin · 24-02-2014 7:33pm

I still wonder if that time lost by transferring Schumi to Moutiers instead of directly to Grenoble would have made any difference. No point for "ifs" and "buts" at this stage I suppose.

Myrddin · 24-02-2014 8:15pm

It’s pretty clear that Michael’s fans are beginning to feel like their devotion, commitment, and passion for someone they’ve elevated to hero status over many years means nothing.

I’m not a journalist, and I’m not a PR/communications professional. But I totally fail to see how the current comms policy helps either Michael or his family.

This is totally unfair to the people who made Michael the celebrity he is

I'm sorry, but that is utter shite. Michael is where he is because of who he is & what he done himself, not because any anyone or anything. What sort of self entitled attitude that is borderline demanding updates, from a family who are undoubtedly rocked to their core, & utterly grief stricken...

This is a husband, & a father lying in a coma, who the hell is anyone else to feel their needs come anywhere even close to the family? We're told what they want to tell us, when they want to tell us...it's as simple as that & end of story. Anyway, I'll read on, hopefully it lightens up in tone further on...

robinwing · 24-02-2014 9:31pm

Others have awoken from comas after years of being in one and made slow but very significant recoveries over a year or so. Where there is life there is hope. The Schumacher family owe us nothing

robinwing · 24-02-2014 9:35pm

The Mail Online have just published this ( probably take it with a grain of salt ) I suspect there will be more and more wild and untrue rubbish published in the coming weeks

Doctors treating stricken Formula One legend Michael Schumacher have reportedly abandoned their attempts to bring him out of his artificial coma following setbacks.
German news magazine Focus - which enjoys a close relationship with the 45-year-old's inner circle - claims the slow waking-up process for the seven-time world champion was put on hold last week.
Schumacher has lain in an artificially induced coma since December 29 in the University Hospital of Grenoble in France after seriously injuring his head during a low-speed ski accident the same day.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2566662/Fears-grow-Michael-Schumacher-doctors-abandon-attempts-end-coma.html#ixzz2uH20gdb0
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

jpb14 · 24-02-2014 10:08pm

robinwing wrote: »

Others have awoken from comas after years of being in one and made slow but very significant recoveries over a year or so. Where there is life there is hope. The Schumacher family owe us nothing

And others have died after never waking up.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/11/former-israeli-pm-ariel-sharon-dies
At the end of the day its a private family matter and no one else is entitled to know whats happeneing,apart from the family themselves.If the family see fit to release a statement to the public then fine,and if they dont then thats fine too..

robinwing · 25-02-2014 5:00am

jpb14 wrote: »

And others have died after never waking up.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/11/former-israeli-pm-ariel-sharon-dies
At the end of the day its a private family matter and no one else is entitled to know whats happeneing,apart from the family themselves.If the family see fit to release a statement to the public then fine,and if they dont then thats fine too..

Paddy147 ? is that you ?

lolie · 25-02-2014 2:07pm

His manager has dismissed reports that doctors have abandoned bringing him out of the coma.

Sabine Kehm, the seven-time champion's manager, said the situation was "unchanged", after the German magazine Focus cited "insiders" claiming doctors at the Grenoble hospital where Schumacher is being treated had abandoned attempts to wake him up "due to complications".

Ms Kehm said: "This phase can take a long time which, much to our regret, can lead to many misinterpretations."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/10659764/Michael-Schumachers-manager-refutes-claims-doctors-end-attempts-to-bring-him-out-of-medically-induced-coma.html

I agree with people here losing respect for Hartstein, i followed shuey an F1 for nearly 20 yrs and dont in any way feel obliged to hear frequent updates from his family about him

SnowDrifts · 25-02-2014 2:10pm

Gary must have gotten a bit of backlash from the comments to his last article...

http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/you-guys-are-pretty-amazing/

Peanut Butter Jelly · 25-02-2014 2:26pm

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Gary must have gotten a bit of backlash from the comments to his last article...

http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/you-guys-are-pretty-amazing/

What Gary is really saying....

lolie · 03-03-2014 1:58am

Bahrain are to name the first corner of the circuit after schumacher, jordan191 posted a link in the F1 2014 thread.

In it his manager said

"I am convinced Michael will love the idea and feel very honoured about having a BIC corner named after him."

Maybe i'm reading to much into it but it seems like a very positive comment.

Ghost Train · 03-03-2014 3:26pm

Would be nice if some sort of positive news before 1st race. But I guess it's a long season, will be bit of a shadow over things though

SnowDrifts · 07-03-2014 1:44pm

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2014/03/michael-schumacher-breathing-by-himself-todt-speaking-to-him-in-english/

Myrddin · 07-03-2014 2:00pm

If indeed he is breathing on his own, that would be a pretty big development.

SnowDrifts · 07-03-2014 2:04pm

Myrddin wrote: »

If indeed he is breathing on his own, that would be a pretty big development.

True but hard to fully believe the article since there are no sources. Hopefully it is true. Gary Hartstein voicing doubt on twitter but I've given him less credit since some of his recent outbursts.

robinwing · 07-03-2014 2:06pm

Doctors treating Michael Schumacher are maintaining their efforts to bring the German out of his medically-induced coma, the F1 legend's management have confirmed.

The 45-year-old seven-times World Champion has been in an artificial coma at Grenoble Hospital for over two months since suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps on December 29.

Schumacher's management confirmed on January 30 that doctors had begun the process of gradually lowering his sedation level in order to start the 'waking up' process, although stressed that they were aware the procedure could take "a long time".

Following speculation in the German media that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver had subsequently contracted pneumonia, the family issued a statement on February 13 assuring that Schumacher's condition remained unchanged and that "the family continues to strongly believe in Michael's recovery".

The subsequent lack of an official update over the last three weeks was punctured by further speculation over Schumacher's condition, including reports that the hospital had suspended the waking up process.

However, on Friday Schumacher's management stressed that nothing had changed since their previous update.

"Michael is still in the wake up phase," Schumacher's management said.

"The situation has not changed. Any medical information published which is not confirmed by the team of doctors treating Michael or his management has to be considered as not valid."

The official updates on Michael Schumacher's condition

March 7
'Michael is still in the wake up phase. The situation has not changed. Any medical information published which is not confirmed by the team of doctors treating Michael or his management has to be considered as not valid.'

February 13
'Michael's family would like to again express their sincere thanks for the continuous sympathy coming from all over the world. The good wishes they receive help the family and, we are convinced they also help Michael, who still is in a waking up process.

'As often in such situation, no day is like the next. The family is thankful for one's understanding that they would not wish to disclose medical details in order to protect Michael's privacy. As assured from the beginning we will continue to communicate any decisive new information on Michael's health state. We are aware that the wake up phase can take a long time.

'The family continues to strongly believe in Michael's recovery and place all their trust in the doctors, nurses and nursing auxiliaries team. The important thing is not the speed of the recovery but that Michael's healing process progresses in a continuous and controlled way.'

Source is Sky Sports website . apparantly the statement today was released about an hour ago

Myrddin · 07-03-2014 2:06pm

SnowDrifts wrote: »

True but hard to fully believe the article since there are no sources. Hopefully it is true. Gary Hartstein voicing doubt on twitter but I've given him less credit since some of his recent outbursts.

Yeah the no source thing is off putting, but apparently the journalist is fairly reputable? What is Hartstein saying?

SnowDrifts · 07-03-2014 2:20pm

Myrddin wrote: »

Yeah the no source thing is off putting, but apparently the journalist is fairly reputable? What is Hartstein saying?

Gary Hartstein ‏@former_f1doc

"I've seen a Gazzetta article whose headline was that Michael is breathing unassisted. A google translate showed NO MENTION of this in the article itself, but I think full text is subs only. Therefore, I think this is must be taken with an enormous grain of salt.

All the more that this would certainly be the kind of thing that I'm sure Michael's family wouldn't hesitate to let us know officially.

And just to be clear, saillant is a retired orthopedist with no knowledge of neurosurgery, severe trauma, or intensive care. He is most certainly NOT "directing Michael's care".

Inconsistencies in the article. Twitches of any part of the body, unless purposeful & reproducible mean essentially nothing.

Playing voices, sounds, speaking to Michael is always a good idea. Again, I'd assume we'd have heard this from Sabine, not unsourced fr Pino"

Myrddin · 07-03-2014 2:22pm

In this case, I think Hartstein is correct, for now anyway...we'll just have to wait & see.

Myrddin · 07-03-2014 4:24pm

So Sabine has more or less denied the news article:

The situation has not changed. Any medical information published which is not confirmed by the team of doctors treating Michael or his management has to be considered as not valid.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/michael-schumacher-sabine-kehm-confirms-schumacher-is-still-in-the-wake-up-phase-and-dismisses-any-other-medical-reports-as-false-9175921.html

RayM · 07-03-2014 6:31pm

The Telegraph is reporting that 'only a miracle will save him'.

Sources close to his family say the 45-year-old driver's wife Corinna and his brother, Ralf Schumacher, have been consulting brain specialists throughout Europe and have been told that his chances of recovery are minimal.

At the management team's request, the Grenoble hospital treating Schumacher has kept news about his condition to a minimum. However sources close to his family say that the driver's prognosis is bleak. "The family has been told that only a miracle can bring him back now," a senior German journalist reporting on the Schumacher case said. " He is in a bad way but until the family issues a formal statement, we cannot publish anything," he added.

This might explain why updates have been so vague and so rare. Barring a miracle, his family probably won't be ready to release any meaningful update on his condition until they've given up hope.

Killinator · 07-03-2014 8:32pm

'sources close to the family' = not reliable

Peanut Butter Jelly · 07-03-2014 8:34pm

Right, can we all agree on this once and for all, if it say's "sources" or "a source", we ignore it. Okay? Can we make an agreement now?

RayM · 07-03-2014 9:02pm

Peanut Butter Jelly wrote: »

Right, can we all agree on this once and for all, if it say's "sources" or "a source", we ignore it. Okay? Can we make an agreement now?

I hope the article I posted is completely wrong, but (a) the Telegraph is a lot more cautious than the tabloids, and (b) on the night of Sunday 29th December, 'sources' claimed that Schumacher's injuries were far more serious than originally reported. 'Sources' aren't always wrong.

Meanwhile, Gary Hartstein has dismissed the idea that a doctor would ever use the term 'miracle' when discussing a prognosis.

08-03-2014 3:57am

RayM wrote: »

'only a miracle will save him'

Like I said a good while ago now, that's what I've resigned myself to. Got an annoying pep there at the idea of him breathing on his own.
Hate this all being dragged out. Without being too morbid (I hope), every driver better ****in drive the wheels off the car this year and remember what Schumi made possible. There's the surface stuff and the complaints about him dominating, but F1 wouldn't be where it is now without him. Damn it I really want him to do a grid walk. For it to end in a bloody skiing accident of all things like.

zetalambda · 08-03-2014 4:06am

I haven't been following this thread but I think it's pretty safe to say that Schumacher is no more. He's been in an induced coma for the last 70 days and from reading between the lines, it looks like they've tried to take him out of that coma but he was unresponsive.

Bobeagleburger · 08-03-2014 11:05am

It's refreshing to see privacy being maintained tbh.

greedygoblin · 12-03-2014 9:06am

Some positive news
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26541565

robinwing · 12-03-2014 9:59am

Forza Schumacher !! Yes !!

Michael Schumacher Suffers Serious Head Injury

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