Mary Lou Retton released from hospital after battle with pneumonia
Mary Lou Retton released from hospital FILE PHOTO: HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 04: Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton arrives for the Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Ballroom at Bayou Place on February 4, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Fanatics)
By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
American Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton is out of the hospital after being hospitalized with pneumonia earlier this month.
On Monday, McKenna Kelley, Retton’s daughter, posted an update on Instagram announcing that her mother was able to leave the hospital to continue recovering at home.
“Mom is HOME and in recovery mode. We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” she wrote on Instagram.
“We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts,” she continued.
“Thank you Jesus, thank you doctors and nurses, thank you to this loving community of support,” Kelley added.
Kelley started a fundraiser to help pay for Retton’s medical expenses after saying her mother did not have health care insurance. The initial goal was to fundraise $50,000. So far, the fund sits at more than $459,000.
Retton, 55, was hospitalized earlier in the month with pneumonia and was put into the ICU after her condition worsened. About a week after the news broke that Retton was ill, her daughters shared a statement on Instagram with “uplifting” news that Retton’s “recovery [was] steadily unfolding.
Last week, her daughter said the former gymnast had suffered a setback.
Retton was the first American woman ever to win an individual all-around gold medal at the Olympics. Retton won the gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Through the years Undated: Mary Lou Retton of the United States (left) stands with her coach Bela Karolyi. Mandatory Credit: Tony Duffy /Allsport (Tony Duffy/Getty Images)
Through the years UNITED STATES - JANUARY 01: Gymnastics: Mary Lou Retton in action, 1/1/1984--7/30/1984 (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X30059 TK1 R2) (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima)
Through the years 1 AUG 1984: MARY LOU RETTON OF THE UNITED STATES IS CONGRATULATED BY TEAM MATES AFTER SCORING A PERFECT 10.0 DURING THE VAULT SECTION OF THE TEAM COMBINED GYMNASTICS COMPETITION. THE USA WON THE SILVER MEDAL BEHIND ROMANIA. (Steve Powell/Getty Images)
Through the years 1984: Mary Lou Retton during the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) (Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
Through the years Scene from the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Through the years 1989: Mary Lou Retton (right) stands with Olga Korbut. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport (Ken Levine/Getty Images)
Through the years 10 Dec 2001: Torchbearer Mary Lou Retton-Kelley passes the Olympic Flame from her torch to a cauldron during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay in Houston, Texas. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw//Pool/Allsport (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
Through the years HOUSTON - OCTOBER 16: Former Gold Medal Olympian Mary Lou Retton throws out the first pitch before Game three of National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros during the 2004 Major League Baseball Playoffs on October 16, 2004 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Cardinals 5-2 to set the series at 2 games to 1 St. Louis. (Photo By Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Through the years SCOTTSDALE, AZ - APRIL 05: Athlete Mary Lou Retton and daughter arrives to Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa on April 5, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night) (Charley Gallay)
Through the years HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - FEBRUARY 21: Mary Lou Retton, former Olympic Gold Medalist in Women's Gymnastics, looks on during the 2009 Tyson American Cup at the Sears Centre on February 21, 2009 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Mary Lou Retton (L) and Sasha Farber pose at "Dancing with the Stars" Season 27 at CBS Televison City on September 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years HOUSTON, TX - MAY 04: Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton takes the First Shot during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on May 4, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) (Tim Warner/Tim Warner)