Olympian Mary Lou Retton Makes Miraculous ICU Recovery from Rare Pneumonia – Her Inspiring Journey

Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, who recently battled for her life in the hospital, has finally returned home. In a recent Instagram post, her daughter McKenna Lane Kelley announced, "Mom is now home and in recovery mode." Although there is still a long journey of recovery ahead, they remain grateful and overwhelmed by the tremendous love and support they have received. The depth of their gratitude cannot be fully expressed.

She expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to Jesus, the doctors, and nurses, as well as this compassionate community for their support."

The news about Retton's health crisis was revealed on October 10, when McKenna announced that her 55-year-old mother had been admitted to the hospital because of pneumonia-related complications. She also shared a link to an online fundraising campaign.

"My incredible mother, Mary Lou, is currently battling a rare form of pneumonia that poses a grave threat to her life," McKenna expressed. "She is currently dependent on external support for breathing and has been receiving intensive care for over a week. To respect my mother's privacy, I will refrain from divulging all the details. However, I will mention that she does not have insurance."

The following day, Retton's daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, revealed in an Instagram video that her mother continues to fight for recovery. (Retton has four daughters - Shayla, 28, McKenna, Skyla, 23, and Emma, 21 - from her previous marriage with Shannon Kelley.)

Courtesy of McKenna Lane Kelley/Instagram

"We kindly ask for your understanding as we navigate through this difficult time. Our priority is to ensure her privacy and maintain confidentiality between her and our loved ones," she expressed, emphasizing that the forthcoming developments will be addressed step by step.

On October 15, McKenna provided a positive update on her Instagram.

"We have exciting news to share! The progress my mom has made is incredible. We have felt the prayers and they are being answered," McKenna wrote. "Although she is still in the ICU, her recovery is steadily improving."

She added, "Her breathing is getting stronger, and her dependence on machines is decreasing. It's a long process, but it's so uplifting to see these improvements! She's starting to show positive responses to the treatments."

Sasha Farber, Retton's former partner on Dancing with the Stars, has expressed his support and urged her to keep pushing forward. (Retton participated in season 27 of DWTS in 2018 and was eliminated during the sixth week of the competition.)

"I had a conversation with her today, and she's putting up a fight," shared Farber, 39, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on October 10. "She's feeling a bit demotivated, but I'm sending her videos of her dancing and reminding her, 'There's no one like Mary Lou Retton. You can do this!'"

He added, "It's important to connect with the people you care about, to greet them, and to reach out to them. And I've been in contact with her today. She's a resilient individual. She will overcome this and come out stronger."

Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, 2008. Michael Caulfield/WireImage/Getty Images

Retton achieved a remarkable feat during her gymnastics career. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she claimed a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, becoming the first American woman to achieve this honor. Not only did she secure the coveted gold, but she also captured two silver medals and two bronze medals throughout the course of the Olympics. After her retirement from gymnastics in 1986, Retton's accomplishments were duly recognized, as she was honored with induction into the prestigious International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997, over a decade later.