Here's some very good news for Michael Schumacher fans who have been hoping and praying for his fast recovery: the Formula One champ seems to be reacting to specialist treatment being given to him.
While information on Schumacher's condition is still scarce, Luca Di Montezemolo, his former boss who is familiar with his treatment, said the racing driver seems to be responsive to procedures being administered to him by his full-time rehabilitation staff.
""I'm very pleased to know that he is reacting," Di Montezemolo was quoted by The Express as saying. He did not elaborate.
Schumacher's ex-boss also expressed admiration for the race driver's determination to fight for his recovery.
"I know how strong he is. I'm sure that thanks to his determination, which will be crucial, he will come out from this very, very difficult situation. And I really hope," Di Montezemolo added.
He further said that Schumacher will always have a special place in F1 racing history.
"Michael has been, for sure, the most important driver in Ferrari history. Despite the fact that Ferrari has many of the best drivers in the world, in different moments in F1 history," he said.
Two years ago, Schumacher was transferred from a hospital in Grenoble in southeastern France to the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland--one of the most renowned medical facilities in the European nation, according to a report by BBC News.
In his new hospital, the famous racer is being taken care of by a team of specialists in his private accommodation, which is now closer to his family.
Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, earlier said the 45-year-old F1 champion was transferred hospitals after he got out of a medically induced coma. Schumacher suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.
"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," Kehm said, as quoted by BBC.
She nevertheless emphasized that Schumacher's treatments will still be done in private
"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye," Schumacher's manager said.
Kehm also earlier said Schumacher was already having "moments of consciousness and awakening."
Neurosurgeon Tony Belli told the BBC that patients with the same injury as Schumacher's usually take months or even years for their rehabilitation.
"We know that some people can spend three, four years in rehabilitation," Belli explained. "It depends very much on the severity of the injury, how young and fit they are."
