“Still Can’t…”: Despite Surviving Death, Mary Lou Retton Still Caught in Grips of Rare Pneumonia

“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” shared McKenna Kelley back in October as her Olympian mother, the iconic Mary Lou Retton, battled for her life in the ICU. Three months later, with help from over 8,000 donors and nearly half a million dollars raised, the icon who faced a near-death scare is making a remarkable comeback and regaining her health.

As the new year began, Mary Lou, America’s first woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics, even opened up about the grueling ordeal she endured. But despite a massive recovery, she revealed that she was still in the clutches of the rare pneumonia that shook her world.

Mary Lou Retton still grapples with the aftermath of her rare pneumonia

In an exclusive interview with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, accompanied by her daughter Shayla Schrepfer, Mary Lou Retton described the horrifying moment the rare pneumonia left her on her bedroom floor all alone, grappling for oxygen. Her declining health even left the doctors conflicted and confused. Mary Lou Retton explained to the esteemed host how the medical team even discussed putting her on a ventilator due to her condition.

But, being the fighter she is, she slowly but surely managed to make a stellar recovery after struggling for nearly a month in the hospital. But what stood out in the interview was a moment when the icon shared that despite making a massive recovery, she still struggled to “take that big deep breath. Couldn’t do it. Still can’t,” demonstrating her struggle to inhale deeply. In the interview, her candid confessions also led her to reveal the dark doubts she faced, moving even interviewer Hoda Kotb to tears.

The doubts the icon faced as a former athlete

Back in October 2023, when Mary Lou’s critical condition was revealed, what stood out for countless fans was when her daughter started a crowdfund as she shared that the gymnast did not have health insurance. This act rallied the gymnastics community and countless fans as the donations surpassed the initial goal of $50,000 by garnering nearly $460,000  in donations.

Read more: Despite Struggling on Life-Support, This Is How Mary Lou Retton Fans Will Always Remember Her

Reflecting on the love, Mary Lou tugged at fans’ and Hoda Kotb’s heartstrings as she said,

“I just thought I was a washed-up old athlete, but the love was just—it touched me.” As the former Olympian continues her recovery, fans eagerly anticipate more positive updates from this legendary figure, celebrating the icon she is.

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