Mary Lou Retton Has Suffered ‘Pretty Scary Setback’ and Remains in ICU, Says Daughter
Mary Lou Retton has had a “scary setback” on her road to recovery.
Retton’s eldest daughter Shayla Schrepfer posted a video on Instagram, Wednesday captioned “Update ????” where she explained to her followers that her mom remains in the ICU.
The star has been battling a rare form of pneumonia since earlier this month and has unfortunately suffered a complication.
“Basically at the beginning of this week we were going on the up and up,” Schrepfer, 28 said. Last weekend Schrepfer and her sister McKenna Keller had shared — in a joint statement on Instagram — the “uplifting” news that Retton’s “recovery [was] steadily unfolding.”
While Schrepfer said in her new video this week that the family had been “excited” by the progress, she also revealed that the gymnast’s road back to health has not been straightforward.
“We were so excited, seeing so much progress and then yesterday we had a pretty scary setback. She is still in ICU and we’re just working through some things as far as her setback goes. So I just wanted to give an update there,” she continued.
“She had a better day today, which is great,” the competitive bodybuilder then said, before adding that her mom is “really really exhausted.”
Schrepfer ended her message by thanking followers and fans for their “support.”
“I’m getting so many messages and emails and just, it’s so great to see people love on her, so… that’s it,” she concluded the video.
The newest update on the former Olympic gymnast — who became the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles — came after Schrepfer and Keller, 26, shared an Instagram post last Saturday where they announced that Retton was getting “stronger.”
“We’re thrilled to share some uplifting updates! Mom’s progress is truly remarkable! Prayers have been felt and have been answered,” Schrepfer and Keller wrote in their joint message.
Retton’s health condition was first revealed by her second eldest daughter, Keller, in an Instagram Story post on Oct. 10. The Story included a link to a fundraising page on Spotfund, where Keller shared that her mom had been in the hospital for more than a week and was “fighting for her life.”
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” she said in a message posted on the fundraising page.
“She is not able to breathe on her own. 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.”
Along with Schrepfer and Keller, Retton also shares daughters Skyla and Emma, with her ex-husband Shannon Kelley. And shortly after the news of her mom’s heath became public, Schrepfer told PEOPLE that the family was focused on Retton’s “well-being” and remaining close to her.
“Our number one concern is the well-being of our mom,” she said to PEOPLE last week. “That being said, being by her side is our first priority.”
Since the news of Retton’s hospitalization was made public, the Spotfund page has been flooded with donations and has currently raised more than $450,000.
