Former US Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, now 55, was recently in the hospital with a rare kind of pneumonia. Her daughter says she’s getting better after a very scary time when she was in intensive care and really struggling.
Mary Lou Retton is one of the most famous US gymnasts ever. She won the gold medal for the individual all-around in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. This was super special because she was the first American woman to get the all-around gold, and even the first to win any individual gymnastics medal.
After winning in the Olympics, Mary Lou Retton became super famous in the US. She was in movies and TV shows during the 1980s and ’90s. She even got the title of “Sportsperson of the Year” from Sports Illustrated in 1984. Last week, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, one of her four daughters, shared a video message about her mom’s health, saying, “As far as an update goes, she’s still fighting. It’s going to be a day-by-day process.”
Shayla said that her mom, Mary Lou Retton, is getting care from the very best doctors, and she’s thankful for it. In a recent Instagram post, Shayla shared some good news. She wrote that they’ve felt everyone’s prayers and that they’re working.
Even though her mom is still in the ICU, she’s getting better each day. Shayla mentioned how her mom’s breathing is improving, and she’s needing machines less and less. Her mom’s strong spirit is showing through her recovery.
Fans of Mary Lou Retton, often called “America’s Sweetheart” because of her amazing performance in the 1984 Olympics, will be happy to hear she’s getting better. Her family started a fundraising page to help with her medical costs, and over the weekend, they received an incredible $400,000 in donations.
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Shayla, Mary Lou Retton’s daughter, said that even though her mom’s recovery might take some time, it’s uplifting to see her get better. Shayla shared that her mom is doing really well with her treatments. We all hope for the best for Mary Lou Retton as she continues to heal.
