Mary Lou Retton.Photo:Eric McCandless via Getty
Eric McCandless via Getty
After a rare form of pneumonia sentMary Lou Rettonto the ICU last fall, the former Olympian is speaking out for the first time about the medical ordeal that left her “fighting for her life.”
In a preview of an upcomingTodayshow interview withHoda Kotbthat aired onSunday Today with Willie Geist, Mary Lou, 55, spoke about her continued recovery. (The full piece airs onTodayMonday morning.)
First revealing that she is “on oxygen” as she sat beside daughter Shayla Kelley with a breathing apparatus supporting her, Mary Lou then noted that she is “very much” in a “vulnerable state,” as Kotb, 59, suggested, explaining, “I’m very private.”
“Usually my interviews are, ‘Oh, yeah, it felt great to win the Olympics,’ you know? This is serious and this is life,” she continued. “I’m so grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here, because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”
News of Mary Lou’s health battle first broke in October, when her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed thather mother was in a Houston-area hospital.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” McKenna, 26, wrote in a message on a Spotfund fundraising pageset up for Retton’s medical expenses, while also revealing that their mother “is not insured.”
At the time, Mary Lou’s eldest daughter, Shayla, 28, said that her family’s priority was “the well-being of our mom” in a statement with PEOPLE.
“We were so excited, seeing so much progress and then yesterday we had a pretty scary setback. She is still in ICU and we’re just working through some things as far as her setback goes. So I just wanted to give an update there,” she shared, just over a week after Mary Lou’s health situation was first revealed.
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About a week later, Mary Lou shared herfirst official update on her health and ongoing recovery. “I’m with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process,” she posted on Instagram.
While she did not disclose any more details about what landed her in the hospital, she did say, “When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues.”
Mary Lou also added that she hoped to one day “help others who may face the same battle as me.”
Since then, Mary Lou has only shared a few updates on the holidays, posting alengthy heartfelt message on Instagramfor Thanksgiving, andanother one on Christmas.
“As we gather to celebrate this Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with profound gratitude. I want to express how truly blessed and thankful I am to be slowly improving and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital,” she captioned a carousel of photos of her and her family.
Mary Lou continued: “The love and support of my four amazing daughters have been a source of strength and inspiration throughout my journey. Their presence in my life is a testament to the incredible bonds of family.”
source: people.com
