Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton battled a “uncommon” sickness, her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed in early October 2023. All through her battle with pneumonia, her daughters and her former Dancing With the Stars accomplice, Sasha Farber, gave followers updates alongside the way in which.
About two months of her battle with pneumonia, Mary Lou has been opening up about what the expertise was like in an interview with As we speak in January 2024. The previous gymnast revealed that she was grateful to be alive following the hospitalization. “I’m so grateful to be right here. I’m blessed to be right here, as a result of there was a time after they have been about to place me on life assist,” she stated.
One yr later, Mary Lou encountered a separate downside, this time with the legislation: a DUI.
To study extra about Mary Lou’s well being, maintain studying.
Who Is Mary Lou Retton?
Mary is among 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. Nevertheless, she remained within the public eye by showing in varied movies, similar to Scrooged and episodes of Baywatch and Glee. She competed on DWTS in 2018 with Sasha as her dance accomplice.
What Sickness Does Mary Lou Retton Have?
Beforehand, Mary’s daughter, McKenna, took to her Instagram Tales to ask followers for monetary help for her mom’s hospitalization. McKenna famous that the previous Olympian doesn’t have medical insurance.
“My superb mother, Mary Lou, has a really uncommon type of pneumonia and is combating for her life,” McKenna revealed with a hyperlink to their SpotFund marketing campaign. “She is just not capable of breathe on her personal. She’s been within the ICU for over per week now. Out of respect for her and her privateness, I cannot disclose all particulars. Nevertheless, I’ll disclose that she is just not insured.”
McKenna continued, “We ask that in the event you may assist in any manner, that 1) you PRAY! and a couple of) in the event you may assist us with funds for the hospital invoice. ANYTHING, completely something, could be so useful for my household and my mother. Thank y’all so very a lot!”
How Is Mary Lou Retton’s Well being Now?
Throughout a earlier interview with Leisure Tonight, Sasha stated he was involved together with his former accomplice and pal.
“I’ve been speaking to her right this moment, and she or he’s combating,” Sasha famous however revealed that Mary, “form of needs to surrender, however I’m sending her movies of her dancing and I’m telling her, ‘There’s just one Mary Lou Retton. You’ve bought this!’”
The professional dancer then recalled that Mary “was in L.A. [a few weeks] in the past, and she or he needed to fulfill up, [but] I had rehearsals, and I couldn’t. She was like, ‘Let me take you out for dinner,’ and I couldn’t go as a result of I had rehearsals.”
Although Sasha is frightened, he insisted that the gold medalist is “a fighter” and is “going to be nice.”
“I do know her very nicely, and she or he’s like household to me, and she or he’s a fighter. She’s robust,” Sasha concluded.
On October 14, the gymnast’s daughters supplied one other replace through a social media assertion. “”We’re thrilled to share some uplifting updates! Mother’s progress is really outstanding! Prayers have been felt and have been answered,” daughters Shayla and McKenna wrote.
“Though she stays within the ICU, her path to restoration is steadily unfolding. Her combating spirit is really shining! Her respiration is changing into stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing,” they defined. “Although it’s a prolonged journey, witnessing these enhancements is extremely heartening! She’s responding so nicely to therapies. As soon as extra, we prolong our heartfelt gratitude to your overwhelming love and assist.”
Shayla gave one other replace on her mother in an Instagram submit on Wednesday, October 18. Whereas it had appeared like Mary was doing higher, she stated that her mother did face a couple of setbacks firstly of the week. “In the beginning of this week, we have been happening the up-and-up. We have been so excited, seeing a lot progress, after which yesterday, we had a fairly scary setback. She remains to be in ICU and we’re simply working by means of some issues so far as her setback goes,” she stated.
Nonetheless, Shayla stated that her mother was simply drained, and was doing a bit bit higher on Wednesday than she had been earlier within the week. “She had a greater day right this moment, which is nice,” she stated. “She is absolutely exhausted.”
On Monday, October 23, McKenna posted one of the best replace but, indicating that Mary Lou has lastly made it residence. “Mother is HOME & in restoration mode,” she wrote partly within the assertion. “We nonetheless have a protracted highway of restoration forward of us, however child steps. We’re overwhelmed with the love and assist from everybody. Grateful doesn’t scrape the floor of the posture of our hearts.”
Mary finally broke her silence on the ordeal in an announcement she shared through Instagram.
“I’m past blessed to have the chance to make this assertion,” the previous athlete started. “I’m overwhelmed with all of the love and assist from the world as I struggle. I’m endlessly grateful to you all! I’m with household persevering with to slowly get well and staying very constructive, as I do know this restoration is a protracted and gradual course of.”
Mary ended her assertion by noting, “When the time is true, I will probably be sharing extra details about my well being points, and hope I might help others who might face the identical battle as me. I really like you all.”
Within the January 2024 As we speak interview, Mary opened up about how scary the entire expertise was, and she or he 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. “However who would even know that this was going to occur to me? That’s the underside line, I couldn’t afford it.”
McKenna additionally revealed that the household had earned over $400,000 throughout the crowd-funding effort in an interview with USA As we speak. She defined their reasoning behind the fundraiser. “This was not imagined to be a giant media factor. … We didn’t even take into consideration what this could flip into. It was merely 4 daughters who felt helpless who needed to assist their mother who knew that this could assist take a burden off,” she stated, and she or he admitted that any remaining cash will probably be donated to charity.
Mary Lou Retton’s DUI Arrest
In Could 2025, Mary Lou was arrested in West Virginia on one rely of “driving below affect of alcohol, managed substances, or medicine; penalties,” in accordance with Individuals. The outlet reported that the previous gymnast was issued a private recognizance bond of $1,500, which she posted the day it was issued.