Six months have passed since Dutch champion Amy Peters suffered a devastating head injury in a crash during a training camp in Spain. Her family revealed in an interview with NOS.nl (opens in new tab) that her rehabilitation is progressing.

According to her father Peter, Amy is slowly recovering after spending three months in a coma.

"She is recuperating in Dordrecht, but is home for the weekend. 'They bring her in on Friday and we bring her home on Sunday evening. That's very good for her. It's good for her. Amy Peters is still partially paralyzed on the right side of her body, but has made steady progress since she began to come out of her coma in mid-March.

"She woke up at a very low level. She has had very few reactions. In the last few months she has gradually improved," her father said. 'First she learned to breathe on her own, then she learned to eat, and now she eats with us. The next step is learning to talk."

In the NOS video, Pieters watches the 2021 All-Japan Championships, where she won the title after escaping in a VAM-berg, nodding and smiling occasionally in response to his comments.

"She understands more and more when you ask her something. Then she nods yes or no. She also becomes more self-motivated and occasionally says 'no.' But she is optimistic and upbeat about everything"

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The family remains hopeful, but for the time being, Pieters needs help with daily living, and doctors acknowledge that every brain-injured patient is different.

Stig Broeks, a former racer for Lot Soudal, was said to be in a vegetative state after a severe brain injury following a crash on the 2016 Baloise Belgium Tour, but four months later he began to show signs of recovery. seven months later he was officially out of his coma and a year later He was able to ride in a stationary trainer. It took more than two years before he was able to run outside, but now, six years later, he lives an independent life with his partner Marlies and has a child on the way.

Peter Peters said of Brokes, "He had a very different brain injury, but six years later he is still making progress. If Amy can make it that far, I'll sign on."

Only time will tell if she can make it that far. 'They say you can't do anything about the brain. The brain is something that is created automatically. You have to rebuild connections, and that takes time. If ten patients come in with the exact same injury, they have ten different treatments.'