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Friday, during the evening of the Telethon, the former journalist Henri Sannier confided in his state of health. In particular, he revealed that he had regained the use of his legs and hands.
After being hit by a car during a bike ride in December 2020, the former journalist and presenter had contracted a virus, leading to neuropathy (a serious autoimmune neurological disease).
Plasmapheresis treatment
If the 74-year-old journalist returned to the Téléthon set on Friday evening, it was to talk about his long fight against illness and to support medical research.
“We find ourselves lying down, we no longer walk for a year and a half to two years. I managed to resume, it was necessary to be strong in the head and I was helped by many people“, he confided, moved.
The former sportsman specifies that if he manages to walk again today, it is because he received treatment by plasmapheresis, which consists of filtering the patient’s blood to renew the plasma.
“I come to Paris every month for a plasmapheresis with extraordinary and competent people, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart“, he specifies.
The former cyclist wants to get back in the saddle quickly
In addition to this treatment, the journalist will follow long months of rehabilitation.
It will nevertheless be necessary to reach June 2022, i.e. two years after the onset of the disease, to observe the first results.
“Last June, during the night, I got up to get some medicine. And I walked! In fact, I think I realized that I could walk again […] I was the happiest, like I had won the Tour de France !”, he assures before specifying “Now (…) I’m only waiting for one thing, it’s to be able to ride my bike again“.
The former commentator of the Tour de France indeed wishes to participate next year in a cyclosportive race which takes place in the Somme.