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Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton battled a “rare” sickness, her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed in early October 2023. Throughout her battle with pneumonia, her daughters and her former Dancing With the Stars companion, Sasha Farber, gave followers updates alongside the best way.
About two months of her battle with pneumonia, Mary Lou has been opening up about what the expertise was like in an interview with Today in January 2024. The former gymnast revealed that she was grateful to be alive following the hospitalization. “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,” she stated.
One 12 months later, Mary Lou encountered a separate drawback, this time with the regulation: a DUI.
To be taught extra about Mary Lou’s well being, hold studying.
Who Is Mary Lou Retton?
Mary is likely one of the most iconic gymnasts in U.S. historical past. Having earned the nickname “America’s Sweetheart” within the Nineteen Eighties, the West Virginia native received the gold medal for the ladies’s particular person all-around competitors along with two silver and two bronze medals on the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Mary was the primary feminine American gymnast to win gold within the Olympics’ all-around competitors.
Two years later, Mary retired from the game. However, she remained within the public eye by showing in numerous movies, reminiscent of Scrooged and episodes of Baywatch and Glee. She competed on DWTS in 2018 with Sasha as her dance companion.
What Illness Does Mary Lou Retton Have?
Previously, Mary’s daughter, McKenna, took to her Instagram Stories to ask followers for monetary help for her mom’s hospitalization. McKenna famous that the previous Olympian doesn’t have medical insurance.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” McKenna revealed with a hyperlink to their SpotFund marketing campaign. “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 continued, “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!”
How Is Mary Lou Retton’s Health Now?
During a earlier interview with Entertainment Tonight, Sasha stated he was in touch together with his former companion and good friend.
“I’ve been talking to her today, and she’s fighting,” Sasha famous however revealed that Mary, “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!’”
The professional dancer then recalled that Mary “was in L.A. [a few weeks] ago, and she wanted to meet up, [but] I had rehearsals, and I couldn’t. She was like, ‘Let me take you out for dinner,’ and I couldn’t go because I had rehearsals.”
Though Sasha is anxious, he insisted that the gold medalist is “a fighter” and is “going to be great.”
“I know her very well, and she’s like family to me, and she’s a fighter. She’s strong,” Sasha concluded.
On October 14, the gymnast’s daughters offered one other replace through a social media assertion. “”We’re thrilled to share some uplifting updates! Mom’s progress is really outstanding! Prayers have been felt and have been answered,” daughters Shayla and McKenna wrote.
“Although she remains in the ICU, her path to recovery is steadily unfolding. Her fighting spirit is truly shining! Her breathing is becoming stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing,” they defined. “Though it’s a lengthy journey, witnessing these improvements is incredibly heartening! She’s responding so well to treatments. Once more, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your overwhelming love and support.”
Shayla gave one other replace on her mother in an Instagram submit on Wednesday, October 18. While it had appeared like Mary was doing higher, she stated that her mother did face a number of setbacks initially of the week. “At the beginning of this week, we were going on the up-and-up. 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,” she stated.
Still, Shayla stated that her mother was simply drained, and was doing slightly bit higher on Wednesday than she had been earlier within the week. “She had a better day today, which is great,” she stated. “She is really exhausted.”
On Monday, October 23, McKenna posted the most effective replace but, indicating that Mary Lou has lastly made it house. “Mom is HOME & in recovery mode,” she wrote partly within the assertion. “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.”
Mary ultimately broke her silence on the ordeal in a press release she shared through Instagram.
“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement,” the previous athlete started. “I am overwhelmed with all 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.”
Mary ended her assertion by noting, “When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues, and hope I can help others who may face the same battle as me. I love you all.”
In the January 2024 Today interview, Mary opened up about how horrifying the entire expertise was, and he or she defined why she wanted a fundraiser, as a result of she couldn’t cowl the healthcare prices. “When COVID hit and after my divorce, and all my pre-existing — I’ve had over 30 operations of orthopedic stuff — I couldn’t afford [insurance],” she stated. “But who would even know that this was going to happen to me? That’s the bottom line, I couldn’t afford it.”
McKenna additionally revealed that the household had earned over $400,000 through the crowd-funding effort in an interview with USA Today. She defined their reasoning behind the fundraiser. “This was not supposed to be a big media thing. … We didn’t even think about what this would turn into. It was simply four daughters who felt helpless who wanted to help their mom who knew that this would help take a burden off,” she stated, and he or she admitted that any remaining cash will probably be donated to charity.
Mary Lou Retton’s DUI Arrest
In May 2025, Mary Lou was arrested in West Virginia on one rely of “driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties,” in accordance with People. The outlet reported that the previous gymnast was issued a private recognizance bond of $1,500, which she posted the day it was issued.