Mary Lou Retton is still battling a rare form of pneumonia according to her oldest daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer. The 55-year-old Olympic gold medalist was admitted to the hospital and spent a week in the ICU being treated for the sickness that prevented her from being able to breathe on her own.
On October 11, 2023, Shayla shared an update on her mom's health via an Instagram video. “First and foremost, thank you so much for all the love and support that you’ve given to my mom. My sisters and I are overwhelmed. We’re overwhelmed."
“We didn’t even realize that so many people out there love her just as much as we do," she continued, speaking of Mary Lou. "It’s been a really hard time for our family. And so just seeing that people love her like that and showing her that support is just meant the world to us and to her. So thank you.”
"As far as an update goes, she's still fighting," Shayla explained. “It’s going to be a day-by-day process, and we hope that you got to respect her boundaries as we want to keep the details between her and our family right now. She’s been treated with the best of the best professionals here, and it has been such a blessing to have their hands on her. So please continue the prayers and we cannot thank you enough for the love and support that you guys have shown.”
More from LittleThings: Selfless ICU Nurse Saves An 8-Year-Old Boy's Life By Donating Part Of Her Liver
A Spotfund page has been created for the retired gymnast. It noted that Mary Lou does not have health insurance. "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," the post read, in part. "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!"
