- Mary Lou Retton is an American Olympian
- She came to prominence in 1984
- THIS is her condition today
McKenna Kelley, her daughter, had this to say about her mom's condition at the moment. "My sisters Skyla, Shayla, Emma and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our Mom," Kelley wrote in an Instagram post. On Tuesday, Kelley revealed her mother has been in an ICU "over a week" with a "very rare form" of pneumonia. Since then, financial support has poured in as Retton "continues to fight."
News that the former gymnast Mary Lou Retton, 55, is fighting for her life after developing pneumonia has prompted an outpouring of support and donations from her fans, who recall her as a vibrant teenage Olympian and know her now as the devoted mother of four daughters,
Mary Lou is still inspiring people to overcome
"She is getting incredible medical care! Thank you to all the doctors and nurses!" Kelley share on Instagram, along with her three sisters Skyla, Shayla, and Emma, also thanked everyone for their love and support. "We ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts for our mom."
'Dancing With the Star' pro Sasha Farber is opening up about former celeb partner Mary Lou Retton's frightening health battle. After this Tuesday's show, Farber, who competed alongside Retton during season 27 in 2018, spoke with 'ET', and revealed that he'd spoken with the iconic gymnast earlier in the day. "I've been talking to her today and she's fighting," shared Farber, who was joined by his current celeb partner Alyson Hannigan. "She kind of wants to give up, but I'm sending her videos of her dancing and I'm telling her, 'There's only one Mary Lou Retton. You've got this!'"
Sasha is pulling for her like everyone else
When Farber and Retton teamed up for season 27, the pair wound up being the fifth couple to get eliminated, but remained close friends in the years since. "She was in LA [a few weeks] ago and she wanted to meet up, but I had rehearsals and I couldn't," Farber shared. "She was like, 'Let me take you out for dinner,' and I couldn't go because I had rehearsals," he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, a fundraiser page for the legendary Olympian has received just under $260,000 in donations. The fundraiser had a stated goal of $50,000. The page also noted that Retton does not have health insurance. Kelley, who was a member of the LSU gymnastics team, said funds were needed to help with medical expenses. Retton is receiving treatment at a Texas hospital, according to 'The Associated Press'.
"We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill," Kelley wrote on the fundraising page. "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom."
Also interesting:
She's on high alert now
How is she doing?
So far, more than 3,900 people have donated to Retton's expenses ... with many leaving words of support for the gymnast and her family. Pneumonia is inflammation caused by an infection in one or both lungs. In community-acquired pneumonia, the underlying infection typically is caused by a virus or bacteria. Pneumonia resulting from a fungal infection is less common. Rarely, a parasitic infection can also be a cause.
A cough worsens and shortness of breath can occur, said Judith O’Donnell, a professor of infectious disease at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "You essentially have portions of your lungs that are not working," O’Donnell said. "They’re not able to bring oxygen into your bloodstream."
Mary's athletic past is helping her body fight the disease. Fans are staying positive despite the evidence, because she's more than an athlete to them. She appeared in several films and television shows in the 1980s and 1990s and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
After she retired from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker and frequently shared messages about the benefit of proper nutrition and exercise. She also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush.
