Time bomb raging within her skull

Brain holding a potential explosion imminent - A time bomb was ticking within her brain.

Monica Lierhaus, a renowned figure in the German sports reporting industry, has an extraordinary story that transcends the realm of sports. Born on Easter, Lierhaus' life took an unexpected turn when she found herself in a coma following a life-threatening brain surgery in January 2009.

Prior to her diagnosis, Lierhaus had made a name for herself as the first woman to conquer the male-dominated field of sports reporting. However, her world was turned upside down when a routine eye laser procedure led to a recommendation for a previous head MRI. The MRI revealed a life-threatening aneurysm, and Lierhaus underwent surgery in a Hamburg clinic.

The operation did not go as planned, and Lierhaus spent four additional months in a coma. During this time, her family served as a "rock" in the storm, with her sister Eva returning immediately from a vacation in Florida to pray non-stop on the plane. The doctors initially told the family that Lierhaus would not wake up and they should say their goodbyes.

Lierhaus spent four months in a coma following her surgery. Upon waking, she found herself in a vegetative state. However, her resilience shone through, and she began to gradually recover. After four months in rehab, she marched out of rehab on her own two feet, defying the doctors' predictions that she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Lierhaus had to learn speaking, walking, and writing again after her recovery. Her determination paid off, and she returned to work in 2014. In the same year, she conducted an interview with then-Bundestrainer Jogi Löw for Sport BILD, marking her first public appearance since her recovery.

In June 2023, Lierhaus joined the RTL Aktuell sports team and has been regularly moderating there ever since. She feels particularly sad for the operating professor, as it was his last operation before retirement and things went wrong. The name of the surgeon who performed Lierhaus's operation in January 2009 is not explicitly mentioned in the available sources.

Despite her harrowing experience, Lierhaus does not believe in fate but in destiny. She reflects on her unfulfilled desire to have children, carrying a "ticking time bomb" in her head since birth without knowing it. Had she given birth, the pressure in her head during labor would have likely caused the aneurysm to burst.

Lierhaus' story is one of courage, resilience, and determination. Her journey from coma to success serves as an inspiration to all, proving that with determination and the support of loved ones, one can overcome even the most challenging obstacles.