Mary Lou Retton breaks silence on life-threatening health scare following 2-week ICU stay

Mary Lou Retton is speaking out for the first time since she was hospitalized for a life-threatening illness.

The former Olympian took to Instagram Monday to share a statement about her current condition.

“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement,” she began. “I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all!”

The 55-year-old mother of four added that in due time she would update fans about her “health issues” in hopes that she could help others who find themselves facing a similar battle.

Retton was hospitalized earlier this month for a “very rare” form of pneumonia.

Her daughter McKenna Kelley asked for the public’s help with paying for her mother’s medical bills as Retton fought for her life in the ICU.

“She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured,” she explained on a SpotFund campaign.

As of October 30 more than $450,000 has been raised.

LOS ANGELES – AUGUST 1984: Mary Lou Retton of the USA waves to the crowd during the Women’s Gymnastics competition of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games held from July 30 to August 3, 1984 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

Retton’s other daughter, Shayla Shrepfer, also kept fans updated on her mother’s condition during her two-week hospitalization.

While their family was initially happy with the progress Retton had been making, the former Olympian experienced a “pretty scary setback.” However, days after the setback Retton was discharged from the hospital and allowed to return home.

“Mom is HOME & in recovery mode,” McKenna, wrote on Instagram. “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps. We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts. Thank you Jesus, thank you doctors & nurses, thank you to this loving community of support.”

Wonderful news for Mary Lou Retton and her family! May she continue to rest and recover.

Related Posts

Bringing Back the Magic: The Heartwarming Return of an American Icon

In a time when many old favorites have quietly disappeared, one unexpected return is stirring up waves of excitement across the country. The revival of a once-beloved…

‘Duck Dynasty’ Patriarch Phil Robertson Dies At 79 After Battle With Alzheimer’s

A well-known reality television family is grieving the loss of its cultural and spiritual leader. Phil Robertson, the bearded patriarch from A&E’s renowned reality series “Duck Dynasty”…

The boy who fell into a gorilla’s cage… and was saved by it

A moment of anguish, tension, and controversy was captured on video when a three-year-old boy accidentally fell into a gorilla’s pit at the Cincinnati Zoo in the…

Texas Man Sentenced for Assaulting Border Patrol Agent Amid Increased Immigration Crackdowns

A Mexican national, Carlos Ernesto Guerrero-Gutierrez, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for assaulting three U.S. Border Patrol agents in El Paso. In November 2023, while…

Tensions Rise as U.S. President Issues Unprecedented Offer to Neighboring Ally

An unexpected proposal from the President of the United States has stirred a complex storm of reactions both at home and abroad. With global tensions rising and…

The Development of the World’s Smallest Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a device that helps control an irregular heartbeat by sending electrical pulses to the heart’s chambers. The first implantation of a fully implantable pacemaker…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *