Michael Schumacher’s family have kept his health a fiercely guarded secret because he once dreamed of ‘disappearing’ from public life, his manager revealed
MICHAEL Schumacher’s family have kept his health secret because he once dreamed of disappearing from public life, his manager revealed.
Few details about the condition of the F1 star have been released since he suffered a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in 2013.
The 50-year-old German is believed to spend most his time at his home in Gland, Switzerland, where he is cared for by a team of 15 physicians and nurses.
He was today reported to have been transferred to Paris to receive cutting edge stem cell treatment from a specialist surgeon.
The seven-times world champion arrived at the Georges Pompidou Hospital on Monday afternoon to meet with Professor Philippe Menasche.
Prof Menasche, 69, is best known for performing the world’s first embryonic cell transplant on a patient with heart failure in 2014.
Stem cell treatment involves replacing damaged cells with healthy ones taken from blood or bone marrow.
Schumacher is expected to undergo treatment as early as this morning before returning home on Wednesday.
Le Parisien added that while he had initially been due to receive the treatment last July, "an unexpected health problem prevented this".
The reports offer fans of the star a rare glimpse into his health, with those close to him having always insisted his condition is a private matter.
Speaking at a media meeting in March 2016, manager Sabine Kehm hinted at a reason for the secrecy, saying that Schumacher had always yearned for a life away from the cameras.
"In general the media have never reported on Michael and Corinna's private life," she said.
"When he was in Switzerland, for example, it was clear he was a private individual.
"Once in a long discussion Michael said to me: 'You don't need to call me for the next year, I'm disappearing.'
"I think it was his secret dream to be able to do that some day. That's why now I still want to protect his wishes in that I don't let anything get out."
Last year, "close relatives" reportedly gave French magazine 'Paris Match' an insight into Schuey's current health.
One was quoted as saying: "When you put him in his wheelchair facing the beautiful panorama of the mountains overlooking the lake, Michael sometimes cries."
And Schumacher's former boss at Ferrari Jean Todt has told how he visits the race ace every month.
He told The Times: "I love Michael. I see his family. I wish the situation would be different.
"When people ask me what is my best memory, it’d say Suzuka in 2000. Michael is world champion after 21 years.
"I remember saying to Michael, ‘On a professional level, things will be different for us."
In 2017, Schumacher's daughter posted an inspirational message to his fans to keep the hope of his recovery alive
Gina-Maria, 20, wrote on Instagram: "There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved #keepfighting."
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One fan replied: "Magnificent, the power of love, god bless your family #Keepfighting #TeamMichael."
His wife Corrina, 46, Gina-Maria, and her brother Mick, 18, have rarely spoken out about his condition.
However, the star's former manager Willi Weber said last October: "I find it very unfortunate that Michael's fans do not know about his health. Why are they not being told the truth?"
In 2016 his team were forced to deny claims in a German magazine that he was now able to walk with the aid of therapists.
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