In a hospital at the foot of the Alps, the quiet room is filled with the faint sound of medical equipment. Outside the window, the first rays of morning light pierced through the mist and shone into the room filled with the smell of disinfectant water.
In bed, a racing legend who once crisscrossed the track, sprinted to the finish line countless times, and was admired by countless people, is now lying there quietly, life swaying in the wind like a faint candlelight.
Michael Schumacher, a car king who drove the world crazy, was in a years-long coma due to an accident.
In the midst of this seemingly hopeless journey, there is one person who is more reluctant to give up than anyone else. She is Corinna, Schumacher's wife and his strong backing.
Faced with the doctor's euthanasia proposal, she resolutely refused, how will Corinna's decision and Schumacher's fate unfold in the challenges and dilemmas?
In 2013, during a climbing trip in the Alps, Michael Schumacher and a group of friends decided to challenge the magnificence of this piece of nature.
As a world-class racing driver, Schumacher's love of speed and adventure has long been known, and this time, he has chosen a completely different approach to experiencing the limit.
The Alps, with their steep peaks, unpredictable weather and beautiful scenery, attract countless mountaineers and adventurers.
Schumacher and his team set off early in the morning, the sun shining through the thin clouds on their determined faces. They are fully equipped and everyone is full of anticipation for the challenges that lie ahead.
As the altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and the trails become more difficult to walk. But Schumacher and his team did not slow down, they supported each other, conquering the mountains step by step.
Just as they were basking in the joy of conquering nature, a sudden avalanche changed everything. Schumacher was inattentive on the descent, unsteady on his feet, and his body began to slide uncontrollably.
Although he tried to stabilize himself with the ice axe in his hand, the snow was too soft to provide little support. He was getting faster and faster, eventually losing his balance and falling off the snowy slope.
No one could have predicted this fall, and no one could have stopped it. Like an out-of-control stone, Schumacher rolled down the slope and eventually slammed his head into a protruding rock.
The sound of the impact made the hearts of everyone present raise their throats. When the rest of the team found that Schumacher was no longer moving, they immediately took action to try to provide initial first aid.
In an emergency, one member of the team quickly called for help in the mountains, while the others did their best to keep Schumacher's temperature and prevent him from suffering more injuries from the bitter cold.
While waiting for help, they used their bodies to shield Schumacher from the wind and snow, and their ice axes and ropes became temporary rescue tools.
The roar of the rescue helicopter eventually echoed through the valley, but for every second of the wait, it felt like endless years. The arrival of rescuers brought a ray of life to this sudden disaster.
Schumacher was rushed to the nearest hospital, and as the helicopter faded into the sky, the members of the team who remained in the mountains were filled with unease and worry.
In that cold hospital room, Corinna stood by Schumacher's bedside, and in front of her were rows of complex medical devices that beeped intermittently, reflecting Schumacher's pale, still face.
This room became her new haven, where she spent almost all her time, waiting for her husband's every breath.
The outside world became a blur for Corinna, and Schumacher's accident and his current situation became the focus of the global media.
Every day, journalists and photographers gather outside the hospital, eager to get an update on the legendary driver.
However, none of this matters for Corinna, whose full attention is focused on Schumacher's recovery.
In the face of the almost unanimous pessimistic predictions of experts, Corinna experienced loneliness and despair like never before. Doctors told her that even if Schumacher was lucky enough to wake up, he could lose his basic ability to live because of severe brain damage.
People close to her, including some relatives and friends, are trying to persuade her to consider giving up. They believe that it might be wiser to inherit Schumacher's vast legacy and start a new life.
However, Corinna was not swayed by these words. Whenever she looked at Schumacher, she would think back to the days they spent together, the moments when they overcame difficulties and shared happiness together. With the support of these memories, she found the strength to move forward.
Thanks to Corinna's perseverance and tireless efforts, every corner of Schumacher's home was redesigned and adapted to the needs of his recovery.
The living room has been converted into a ward with hospital-grade facilities, equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including machines that monitor heart rate and brain activity, specialized rehabilitation equipment, and a full nursing station.
The walls were repainted to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment, while all the facilities were designed to ensure Schumacher's comfort and safety during his recovery.
Not only did Corinna transform her home into a premium ward, but she also hired a medical team of top experts from around the world, all of whom have deep expertise in their respective fields.
The team, which includes neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, nurses and physiotherapists, worked together to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed to stimulate Schumacher's nervous system and help him gradually regain consciousness and bodily function.
The medical team conducts multiple treatments and assessments a day, including physical therapy, music therapy, and light electrical stimulation, in an attempt to awaken Schumacher's consciousness.
In addition, they used a range of innovative treatments, such as ultrasound therapy and virtual reality rehabilitation, to promote his nervous system recovery. All of these efforts were made to give Schumacher the best chance of recovery, albeit with extremely slim hope.
Corinna herself is involved in her husband's care, learning basic nursing skills such as how to administer Schumacher's feeding and monitoring his vital signs.
She hardly left Schumacher's side, guarding him day and night, making sure he received the best possible care. Even in the face of the doctor's euthanasia recommendation, Corinna did not waver, and she firmly believed that as long as Schumacher had a chance of life, she should do everything in her power to maintain and protect it.
The high cost of medical care became another big challenge that Corinna had to face. In order to support Schumacher's treatment, she had to make major financial decisions, including the sale of some of her assets.
These sacrifices, although heavy, in Corinna's view, are not important, the important thing is to give Schumacher a chance to fight and give the family a hope.
The cost of Schumacher's treatment snowballed, and every attempt at treatment, every new medical device introduced, and every consultation with a specialist meant huge expenditures.
Corinna is under increasing financial pressure, but she has not chosen to back down. In order to maintain the high medical bills, she made the difficult decision to start selling the valuables in her home, including Schumacher's former racing car and personal plane, which were symbols of honor in his career, each carrying his glory moments and sweet memories.
First, she contacted several auction houses and organized several large auctions to put some of Schumacher's precious collection and personal belongings up for public sale.
These auctions attract collectors and racing enthusiasts from all over the world, who bid out of respect for Schumacher and their love of racing culture. The success of each auction provided valuable money for Schumacher's treatment.
However, even so, as the treatment continued for several years, the total cost still reached a staggering $1.8 billion. This figure far exceeded Corinna's initial expectations, and she had to further tighten her family's expenses, with almost all of her fortune being used to pay for Schumacher's medical bills. The family's once lavish life is gone, replaced by endless financial worries and hardships of life.
Faced with such a heavy financial burden and long mental pressure, Corinna was under a huge load both physically and mentally.
The long stay up and stress made her health much worse than before, and the weight gain and long exertion made her look older and more tired than her actual age.
However, even in such difficult circumstances, her determination was not weakened, and she remained at Schumacher's bedside, providing meticulous care for his recovery.
After years of coma, Schumacher's eyes finally slowly opened. This scene seems to be a beam of light that penetrates the haze that has long shrouded the hearts of the family.
One morning in 2019, as the medical team was conducting a routine check-up, Corinna sat on the edge of Schumacher's bed, holding his hand and silently sending him blessings. Suddenly, Schumacher's eyelids began to flutter, as if there was a hint of recovery.
Everyone in the room was blown away by the scene. Doctors and nurses rushed around and began to urgently check Schumacher's vital signs and level of consciousness.
And Corinna, looking at her husband's eyes that opened for the first time in many years, tears instantly welled up, and her face was filled with unbelievable joy.
As Schumacher's health gradually improved, Corinna and the medical team still faced many challenges. They embark on more complex stimulation training, including speech and physical therapy, and each small improvement requires countless attempts and effort.
Corinna remains an indispensable supporter of Schumacher's recovery, and her strength and perseverance inspire everyone.
During this long process of recovery, the Schumacher family showed their resilience and courage like no other. Corinna, the woman who stood through the storm, used her actions to interpret what unconditional love and sacrifice are.
"Car owner" Schumacher bids farewell to F1[J].Inside and outside the classroom (high school edition) (A version),2006(12):5-5