FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA: Mary Lou Retton is on the mend following a health scare that landed her in the ICU.
"I'm with the family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process," the former gymnastics champion, 55, wrote in a statement on her Instagram account on Monday, October 30, People reports.
Although she did not shed light on what landed her in the hospital, which her daughter McKenna Kelley, originally said was "a very rare form of pneumonia", the first American woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics did say "When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues."
Mary Lou Retton is 'overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world'
Retton further stated that she hopes that by sharing her story, she "can help others who may face the same battle as me."
She also wrote that she is "beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement," and said she is "overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight."
"I am forever grateful to you all!" she added. The five-time Olympic medalist also wrote, "I appreciate everyone's respect of my privacy at this time," and signed off the update with "I love you all -MLR."
This new development comes to light a week after Kelley, 26, announced that the gymnastics icon was released from a Texas hospital after a multi-week bout of pneumonia.
“Mom is HOME & in recovery mode,” Kelley wrote in a statement on Instagram, adding “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps. We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone," she continued.
"Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts," she added.
Mary Lou Retton's daughter said she was 'fighting for her life'
Kelly announced earlier this month the news that her mother was hospitalized and “fighting for her life.”
"My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life," she wrote in a message on a Spotfund fundraising page for Retton which has raised over $459,00 as of Monday afternoon, October 30.
"She is not able to breathe on her own," she said, adding "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 is not insured.”
Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, Retton’s eldest daughter, said at that time that the family’s number one concern is "the well being of our mother.”
“That being said, being by her side is our first priority,” Schrepfer, 28, added.
The sisters spoke about the overwhelming support for their mom during their mother's stay in the ICU.
“My sisters and I are overwhelmed — overwhelmed,” Schrepfer said on Instagram, adding “We didn’t even realize that there’s so many people out there that love her just as much as we do and it’s been a really hard time for our family."
“And so just seeing that people love her like that, showing her that support has just meant the world to us and to her, so thank you," she continued.
