(CNN) Michael Schumacher's family has released a rare statement via his official Facebook page ahead of the Formula One great's 50th birthday on Thursday.
The seven-time F1 champion suffered serious head injuries in a freak skiing accident on December 29, 2013.
Schumacher continues to receive specialist treatment at his home in Switzerland, but his family remain fiercely protective about revealing details about his physical state.
The statement said that Schumacher was in the "very best of hands" and that "everything humanly possible" was being done to help the legendary German champion.
"Please understand if we are following Michael's wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as health, as it has always been, in privacy. At the same time we say thank you very much for your friendship and wish you a healthy and happy year 2019," the statement added.
Formula One champion Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher's manager expressed the "continued support and patience" being offered to the stricken Formula One star. "We must hope that with continued support and patience he will one day be back with us," Sabine Kehm said. In December 2016 she added Schumacher's health "is not a public issue."
The seven-time Formula One champion was hospitalized December 29 after suffering "severe head trauma" from a ski accident in the French Alps. He is no longer in a coma and has since been transferred to a hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland for rehabilitation. Here's a look back at his personal and career highlights on the 20th anniversary of his first world title triumph.
Schumacher is hoisted by his pit crew at the Australian Grand Prix track in Adelaide, Australia, after winning the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship in 1994.
Schumacher holds up the victory trophy, left, and the French Republic President's trophy after winning the French Formula 1 Grand Prix in Magny Cours, France, in 1995.
Schumacher meets Pope John Paul II in 1999.
King Juan Carlos of Spain congratulates Schumacher after he won the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2001.
Schumacher checks out an Enzo Ferrari at Frankfurt's International Motor Show in 2003.
Schumacher steers his Ferrari in front of a Eurofighter on the track of a military airport in Grosseto, Italy, in 2003.
Schumacher sits in his car before the start at the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in 2004 in Shanghai.
A man rides past a poster with Schumacher's likeness in Bahreman, Iran, in 2005.
Felipe Massa hugs Schumacher after Massa won first place in the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Turkey in Istanbul in 2006.
Schumacher drives during a practice session at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne in 2006.
Schumacher celebrates his win at the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Germany in 2006 in Hockenheim, Germany.
Schumacher's pit team works on his car during the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China in Shanghai in 2006.
Schumacher arrives for an awards ceremony in Oviedo, Spain, in 2007.
Schumacher autographs the T-shirt of an earthquake victim in Costa Rica in 2009.
Shumacher presents the new Mercedes SLS AMG, also the 2010 Formula 1 safety car, in Geneva in 2010.
Schumacher visits the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to test eSafety technologies in 2011.
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The Schumacher family -- wife Corinna, daughter Gina-Maria (a competitive equestrian rider) and son Mick -- launched the "Keep Fighting" initiative in 2016 with the aim of bringing together those inspired by the legendary driver.
On Thursday, an official Schumacher app -- which will be a "virtual museum" of the driver's achievements -- will be released to honor the man who secured a record seven championships and 91 race victories.
"We are very happy to celebrate Michael's 50th birthday together with you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts that we can do this together. As a gift to him, you and us, Keep Fighting Foundation has created a virtual museum," said the statement.
"The app is another milestone in our effort to do justice to him and you, his fans, by celebrating his accomplishments.
"We want to remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation."
Schumacher's 19-year-old son will race in Formula 2 this year after winning the European Formula Three championship in 2018 with eight victories from 30 starts. His father made his F1 debut at the age of 22.