Seven months after being hospitalized with a serious illness, Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton revealed that her doctors still don’t know the exact nature of her lung condition.
Retton, 56, spoke to “Entertainment Tonight” on Wednesday, stating that she relies on oxygen tubes daily as she continues her recovery.
“They still don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said. “They’re calling it a rare form of pneumonia.”
The retired gymnast spent about a month in the intensive care unit in October 2023 and said she suffered lasting damage to her lungs.
“My lungs are pretty scarred up and they’re gonna stay that way forever,” she said.
Retton admitted that the experience has been mentally challenging.
“I’m not a really depressed person, but this experience really changed me mentally, and I’ve been struggling with that,” she said.
Despite the difficulties, she remains optimistic.
“I have a lot to look forward to, and I know that,” she added.
Retton told “Entertainment Tonight” that her health challenges have “been hard.”
“Give me a hip to rehab, give me a shoulder,” she said. “The lungs are a different beast.”
Retton’s daughters played a crucial role in her recovery. On October 10, 2023, they revealed that she was in the ICU fighting for her life with pneumonia. They also sought financial support through a crowdfunding page, noting that Retton didn’t have health insurance.
Retton shares four daughters — McKenna Kelley, Shayla Schrepfer, Skyla Kelley, and Emma Jean Kelley — with her ex-husband, former University of Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley, whom she divorced in 2018.
In the weeks following her hospitalization, her daughters kept the public updated on her condition and expressed gratitude for the support they received.
After Retton was discharged from the hospital, her daughters continued to share updates on their life with her.
On Thanksgiving 2023, Retton, who became a prominent figure in ’80s gymnastics as a teenager, wrote on Instagram about her gratitude and gradual improvement.
On October 30, she made her first statement on Instagram since being hospitalized.
“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement,” she wrote. “I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all!”
She continued, “I’m with family, continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process. I appreciate everyone’s respect for my privacy at this time. When the time is right, I will share more information about my health issues and hope I can help others who may face the same battle as me. I love you all. — MLR.”
