Gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton has spoken out about the devastating effects of her battle with pneumonia, saying: “I will never be the same.”
Retton, who won gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, was rushed to hospital in October after her neighbour found her lying on the floor suffering from a rare form of the disease.
After being rushed to intensive care as she fought for her life, the 56-year-old’s four daughters even bid their mother a final farewell after doctors expressed fears she might not make it through the night.
Fortunately, Retton eventually overcame the illness and doctors sent him home after a couple of days.
However, after such a serious health scare, the former Olympic heroine now fears she may never properly recover from the damage to her lungs.
Mary Lou Retton has spoken out about the devastating effects of her battle with pneumonia
“It’s been very hard,” he said in an emotional interview with People“My lungs are badly damaged. It will take me a lifetime to recover.”
“My physique was the only thing I had and they took it away from me. It’s shameful.”
Retton believes she recovered from the ordeal because “God wasn’t ready” for her yet, despite admitting she is extremely lucky to still be alive.
“Little girl, she should be dead,” he added. “The doctors told them (the daughters) to come and say goodbye.
‘They prayed for me and McKenna said, “Mommy, it’s okay, you can go.”
‘I didn’t have a great relationship with my mother, but I can’t imagine what it was like to see your mother on her deathbed.’
Retton, who won gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, was hospitalized in October with a rare form of pneumonia.
The Olympic legend’s four daughters opened a SpotFund account while she was in the ICU
While their mother battled a rare form of pneumonia in the hospital, Retton’s four daughters set up a SpotFund account to pay her medical bills and eventually raised roughly $500,000 in donations.
However, the family soon came under fire after refusing to clarify where the donations would go, while Retton’s claim of not having insurance was also questioned by some.
“They didn’t deserve that,” Retton said in May when asked about the backlash her daughters received.
“They were just trying to look out for me. I don’t care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It’s what makes us America. Everybody has an opinion, but it is what it is.”