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Mary Lou Retton, 55, is talking out in regards to the scary well being battle she went by means of final yr. The previous Olympic gymnast revealed she was virtually placed on “life assist” when she was struggling within the ICU for a month with a uncommon type of pneumonia, in a brand new interview. It’s the primary time she’s publicly commented on her well being points since they occurred.
“Often my interviews are, ‘Oh, yeah, it felt nice to win the Olympics,’ you realize? That is critical and that is life,” Mary Lou, who wore a respiratory equipment in her nostril for oxygen, informed Hoda Kotb in a preview for an upcoming Immediately interview, which aired on Sunday Immediately with Willie Geist. “I’m so grateful to be right here. I’m blessed to be right here, as a result of there was a time once they had been about to place me on life assist.”
She additionally admitted to being “very a lot” in “a weak state” however mentioned she can also be “very personal” relating to her private life.
Mary Lou’s interview comes after her daughter, McKenna Kelley, 26, revealed that her mom was in a Houston, TX hospital and wasn’t insured. “My wonderful mother, Mary Lou, has a really uncommon type of pneumonia and is preventing for her life,” McKenna wrote in a message on a Spotfund fundraising web page arrange for Mary Lou’s medical bills. On the time, Mary Lou’s oldest daughter, Shayla, 28, additionally informed PEOPLE that her household’s precedence was “the well-being of our mother.”
“We had 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. So I simply needed to provide an replace there,” Shayla shared, simply over per week after McKenna revealed the information about Mary Lou’s well being battle.
After ultimately being launched from the hospital, Mary Lou, herself, gave an replace on her situation. “I’m with household persevering with to slowly get better and staying very optimistic as I do know this restoration is a protracted and sluggish course of,” she posted on Instagram. “When the time is correct, I can be sharing extra details about my well being points.”
