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Status Report on National F2000 Champ Thiago Bezerra

24 February 1998

BEZERRA STILL IN COMA, BUT DOCTORS ENCOURAGED

FAIRFIELD, N.J. (February 24, 1998) — U.S. F2000 National Championship
driver Thiago Bezerra, of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, remains in a coma at the
Orlando Regional Medical Center after his January 24 accident at Walt
Disney World Speedway, but shows signs of improvement.

Bezerra, who first began to open his eyes two weeks ago, has begun to look
around his room and acknowledge visitors. He also has shown improvement by
moving his left arm and squeezing a rehabilitation ball.

“When I went to take the ball from his hand, Thiago reaches out and takes
it back from me — that’s a good sign,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Richard
Douglas. “We’re encouraged with his progress over the last week and a half,
but there is still a long way to go.”

Bezerra, 20, entered the hospital a four on the Glascov Scale of Comatose,
which ranges from three (deep coma) to 15 (normal functionality), and has
improved to a 10 or 11, according to Douglas.

“With a diffuse axonal brain injury, we generally look for the majority of
improvement in the first six months,” said Douglas. “Thiago’s age is in his
favor as far as the recovery statistics are concerned. While we generally
see only 10 percent of these injuries lead to a substantial recovery, that
includes people of all ages, and a 20-year-old in excellent shape, like
Thiago, has a much better outlook than someone else.”

Bezerra has continuously had family by his side, assisting in his recovery
process. Douglas reported that they will travel to Jackson Memorial in
Miami later this week to investigate the prospect of moving him to assist
in the recovery process.

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