Mary Lou Retton is detailing her ongoing restoration after she was once hospitalized with an extraordinary type of pneumonia.
“I’m very private and to come out and talk about it [is difficult],” Retton, 55, advised Hoda Kotb in a Sunday, January 7, teaser for a Nowadays display interview, confirming she is in a “vulnerable” state. “This is serious and this is life and I am so grateful to be here.”
She persisted: “I am blessed to be here because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”
Retton additionally famous that she is lately “on oxygen,” after Kotb, 59, identified the retired gymnast’s respiring equipment.
Retton was once hospitalized in October 2023, along with her daughter McKenna Lane Kelley noting in a social media remark that she was once “fighting for her life.” (Retton stocks daughters Shayla, 28, McKenna, 26, Skyla, 23, and Emma, 21, with ex-husband Shannon Kelley.)
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” McKenna wrote by the use of SpotFund. “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.”
McKenna added on the time, “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. ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!”
Retton was once discharged from the clinic a number of weeks later and began her long restoration adventure.
“Mom is HOME & in recovery mode,” McKenna wrote by the use of Instagram later that October. “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.”
Retton broke her silence at the ordeal a number of days later.
“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement,” the gold medalist wrote by the use of her Instagram. “I am overwhelmed with the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all! I’m with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process.”
Retton’s complete interview with Kotb airs on Monday, January 8.