Current:Home > MyTrendPulse|Mary Lou Retton's Family Shares "Remarkable" Update Amid Gymnast's Battle With Rare Illness -ProsperityStream Academy
TrendPulse|Mary Lou Retton's Family Shares "Remarkable" Update Amid Gymnast's Battle With Rare Illness
TrendPulse View
Date:2025-04-11 01:33:32
Mary Lou Retton's family finally has some news worth flipping over.
More than a week after the Olympic gymnast was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia,TrendPulse her daughters Shayla Schrepfer, 28, and McKenna Kelly, 26, shared a positive update on her health journey.
"Mom's progress is truly remarkable!" they shared on their separate Instagram pages Oct. 14. "Prayers have been felt and have been answers."
Though the athlete—who took home five medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles—remains in the ICU, "her path to recovery is steadily unfolding," they added. "Her fighting spirit is truly shining!"
"Her breathing is becoming stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing," Shayla and McKenna continued. "Though it's a lengthy journey, witnessing these improvements is incredibly heartening! She's responding so well to treatments."
For the family—which also includes Shayla and McKenna's sisters Skyla Kelly, 23, and Emma Kelly, 21—the outpouring of support has kept their spirits up.
As the duo concluded their posts, "We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your overwhelming love."
Earlier in the week, McKenna set up a Spotfund fundraiser for her mom, who she said was "fighting for her life."
"She is not able to breathe on her own," McKenna wrote. "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, she did acknowledge that her "amazing mom" did not have insurance and asked for both prayers and donations to help with hospital bills. "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom," McKenna added. "Thank y'all so very much!"
On Oct. 11, Shayla shared in an Instagram video that the family was taking the diagnosis day by day.
"She's still fighting," she told her nearly 20K followers. "She is being treated by the best of the best professionals here. And it has been such a blessing to have their hands on her. So please continue the prayers. We cannot thank you enough for the love and support you guys have shown."
Which included raising more than $433,000 for Mary Lou.
"My sisters and I are overwhelmed," Shayla said. "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, so just seeing that people love her like that, and are showing her that support, it's just meant the world to us and to her."
Also in Mary Lou's corner? Her former Dancing With the Stars partner Sasha Ferber.
"I spoke to my sweet Mary Lou over text, during the show," Sasha, who was paired with the athlete during season 27 in 2018, recently told People, "and I reminded her that she needs to fight harder than ever, there is only ONE Mary Lou and that she has got this."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (537)
Related
- $1 Frostys: Wendy's celebrates end of summer with sweet deal
- Ariana Grande Brings Back Impressions of Céline Dion, Jennifer Coolidge and More on SNL
- Peso Pluma cancels Florida concerts post-Hurricane Milton, donates to hurricane relief
- Hurricane Milton leaves widespread destruction; rescue operations underway | The Excerpt
- US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
- The Latest: Trump and Harris head back to Pennsylvania, the largest battleground state
- Opinion: Penn State reverses script in comeback at USC to boost College Football Playoff hopes
- Six college football teams can win national championship from Texas to Oregon to ... Alabama?!
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- This week's full hunter's moon is also a supermoon!
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Deion Sanders, Colorado lose more than a game: `That took a lot out of us'
- Forget the hot takes: MLB's new playoff system is working out just fine
- Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet Spotted on Dinner Date in Rare Sighting
- Giants, Lions fined $200K for fights in training camp joint practices
- Head and hands found in Colorado freezer identified as girl missing since 2005
- Opinion: Penn State reverses script in comeback at USC to boost College Football Playoff hopes
- Here's what's open, closed on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day 2024
Recommendation
A New York Appellate Court Rejects a Broad Application of the State’s Green Amendment
What is Indigenous Peoples' Day? What to know about push to eliminate Columbus Day
How The Unkind Raven bookstore gave new life to a Tennessee house built in 1845
Profiles in clean energy: Once incarcerated, expert moves students into climate-solution careers
Elon Musk’s Daughter Vivian Calls Him “Absolutely Pathetic” and a “Serial Adulterer”
Ariana Grande Brings Back Impressions of Céline Dion, Jennifer Coolidge and More on SNL
How child care costs became the 'kitchen table issue' for parents this election season
Members of the Kennedy family gather for funeral of Ethel Kennedy