The iconic Olympic sports legend who captured the love and attention of Americans when she won the all-around women’s gymnastics competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics, Mary Lou Retton, has been hospitalized and is now in the ICU, her daughter announced.
In fact, the middle-aged (she is 55) former gymnast is battling a severe bout of pneumonia in the hospital, and though how she contracted the illness and what her exact condition is, her daughter said that she is fighting a “very rare form” of pneumonia and that she is “not able to breathe on her own.”
Writing about the matter on Instagram, her daughter, McKenna Lane Kelley, wrote, “My sisters Skyla, Shayla, Emma and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our Mom. Mom is in ICU and continues to fight. She is getting incredible medical care! Thank you to all the doctors and nurses! We ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts for our Mom.”
Mckenna Lane Kelly also requested donations for her mom in a fundraising campaign on SpotFund, saying that her mother is uninsured, which means the financial burden of the prolonged hospital stay to fight the illness will be a heavy one.
“Hey everyone! On behalf of my sisters and I, we need y’all’s help. My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. 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 not insured,” she said,
She added, “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!”
The campaign has so far picked up quite a bit of help from people who saw the former Olympian’s need and donated, with the barometer of donations on the SpotFund campaign page showing that it has so far raised $272,431 of its $50,000 goal.
Retton made history when she won the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and became the first American ever to win an individual, all-around gold medal. That victory was made all the more impressive by Retton having had knee surgery just weeks before the Games,
Despite that seeming handicap, Retton recorded perfect 10s on the floor and vault, enabling her to edge out Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo by just 0.05 points. During that year’s Olympics, Retton also managed to bring home silver medals in the vault and team event, along with bronze medals in the uneven bars and the floor.
She was then named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportswoman of the Year” and was featured on a Wheaties box. Then, in 1985, she managed to win the all-around competition in the American Cup. She retired in 1986, ending her career on a high note.
Featured image credit: SpotFund Campaign
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