Michael Schumacher shows 'moments of consciousness' after three months in coma: Report

In what has to be the first positive news for fans and family of Michael Schumacher in a long time, the Formula 1 racing champion is showing "moments of consciousness and awakening."

After more than three months in a coma, the seven-time champion is "making progress," said Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm.

Schumacher has opened his eyes and has had interaction with his environment, claims Kehm,  although in a minimal way.

The 45-year-old Schumacher suffered a near-fatal head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps on December 29 and has been in a medically-induced coma since. His family said at the end of January that drugs used to keep him in his deep sleep were being reduced with the intention of bringing him back to consciousness.

The good news comes after weeks of doubt and follows a report that the race car driver's wife, Corinna, was building a $17 million medical/ rehab center inside their $50 million Switzerland mansion.

"Michael is making progress on his way. He shows moments of consciousness and awakening. We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident," said Kehm.

She said no further details would be given out of respect to his family and to "enable the medical team to work in full calmness."

Gary Hartstein, a former Formula One doctor, said "awakening" would mean that Schumacher has opened his eyes.

"This eye opening can even be cyclic," he explained.  "Following what looks just like a sleep-wake cycle (even if not synchronized to real day-night hours)."

And he said the "moments of consciousness" meant that Schumacher would have had interaction with his environment.

Doctors began the process of gradually awakening him more than nine weeks ago. Now there seems to be real hope.

"We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident," Kehm said.

Michael Schumacher's wife builds $17M medical suite in mansion for post-hospital care

In what some observers are calling a “sense of denial” or a "last hope for a miracle," the wife of Michael Schumacher is reportedly spending $17 million on building a fully equipped medical suite in their family home so her husband can leave the French hospital where he lies in a coma.

Despite being told by doctors that her husband will likely never wake from his medically-induced coma, an optimistic Corinna Schumacher  has decided to use a portion of the family's vast fortune to build the facility in their sprawling $42 million estate on the banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Most doctors beleive that the seven-time Formula-1 champion will be in a vegetative state the rest of his life.

Sadly, Saturday is the three month anniversary of the French Alps skiing accident where Schumacher hit his head and was put into an induced coma to reduce brain swelling.

Since then, there have been few encouraging signs of recovery and the 45-year-old racer has been wasting away in his hospital bed, losing 25 per cent of his body weight.

A friend of the Schumacher's, who has known the family for 25 years, told The Sun: "Miracles happen, of course, and as a wealthy man he has the best care money can buy.

"But all the money in the world cannot fix what has happened to him. The family are making arrangements for a future of permanent immobility."

Corinna Schumacher — who has been at her husband's bedside almost daily since the accident — has always been extremely supportive of her husband's career. To which he once said, "It is not so easy to find a partner who unconditionally adapts to the pace of my life."

The family friend added she "would view breaking faith with the hope of a miracle a betrayal, little better than treachery."