Mary Lou Retton breaks silence as she recovers from pneumonia

Mary Lou Retton is speaking out for the first time after spending more than two weeks in the ICU with a rare and life-threatening form of pneumonia. "I'm beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement,” she wrote. “I'm with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process.” NBC’s Kaylee Hartung reports for TODAY.
» Subscribe to TODAY: on.today.com/Su...
» Watch the latest from TODAY: bit.ly/LatestTODAY
About: TODAY brings you the latest headlines and expert tips on money, health and parenting. We wake up every morning to give you and your family all you need to start your day. If it matters to you, it matters to us. We are in the people business. Subscribe to our channel for exclusive TODAY archival footage & our original web series.
Connect with TODAY Online!
Visit TODAY's Website: on.today.com/Re...
Find TODAY on Facebook: on.today.com/Li...
Follow TODAY on Twitter: on.today.com/Fo...
Follow TODAY on Instagram: on.today.com/In...
» Stream TODAY All Day: www.today.com/...
About: TODAY All Day is a 24/7 streaming channel bringing you the top stories in news and pop culture, celebrity interviews, cooking, and more. All in one place.
#marylouretton #health

[@patriciafreeman2822]

Laughing all the way to the bank cashing in on the $469,000 with her 4 daughters😢😢😢😢

[@albanymountainhomestead]

Don't be jelly...

[@linanicolia1363]

4 daughters ? wow ! That money is nothing ; hospital bills are a nightmare. People who have insurance only get about 80% coverage. The rest they have to pay, so we end up with a lot of homeless people. The healthcare system has turned into an industry. Money is being made. Some people recover, some don't but they always have to pay these bills. No breaks.

[@FunnyHighway-wm7uk]

She Worth..Millions Mo.Aka..She❤ is priceless!! invaluable..DO ALL HEALTH STUFF 🎉.Rebuild those LUNGS..U CAN DO IT!!

[@TJ-kk5zf]

yeah, it stinks

[@MissesCakes]

Asking for privacy? After asking for $ from fans? Half a million?

[@scottferguson2278]

How could she not be insured ?

[@annecohen8927]

It’s actually none of our business whether she is insured or not. Buying health insurance can be quite expensive though. I have a preexisting health condition due to my past experience with pneumonia in 1986. It’s so nice to see she’s recovering but she still has a long way to go. But she still has the support of her family members and friends who helped her do she’s very fortunate. Not other people are that fortunate like Mary Lou Retton is. So let’s us give her privacy like she deserves until she has made her complete recovery.

[@scottferguson2278]

@@annecohen8927 Actually it becomes our business when they start asking for money from the public. I wish her a full healthy recovery and a return to a great life. That said, it is irresponsible to NOT have insurance, but then expect others to pay your medical bills, Olympic hero or not.

[@Shane_2022]

@@annecohen8927You are wrong, I agree with Scott from above.

[@albanymountainhomestead]

​@@scottferguson2278the thing with donation is that is exactly that. Why people who give money feel so entitled to know everything is BS ... you give without expectation that's what giving really means!

[@scottferguson2278]

@@albanymountainhomestead. I respectfully disagree. When one gives under false pretenses, they have every right to question why they gave & how the money is used. This is no different than giving to a charity for say building a clinic in a poor neighborhood & then finding out the money was used to purchase an airplane for the director of said charity. We have a right to question where our money goes especially when we have been duped.

[@starguard4122]

Good to hear she is doing fine

[@jjfreedom921]

Love her, happy she's recovering!

[@katydid917]

How does a woman that age not have enough forethought to have insurance? Celebrities who beg for money are sketchy.

[@linanicolia1363]

Maybe she could not afford the premiums ? They are over the top. I remember noticing she was getting some joints replaced in the last few years.....Typical, due to the abuse tolerated by the bodies of these athletes, who are rough on their legs and hips. Maybe insurance companies refused to cover her . I am guessing her premiums were sky high. The government should pay for her medical bills, since she was, after all, a person who put the US on the map. Let's ask Biden ! She should not have to pay for her medical bills.

[@ctwatcher]

Why didn't she sell her medals instead of waking up to the smell of millions? Will she share some of it with real desperate people who had no medals to sell?

[@leonardhill4440]

What is her secret? She’s just as beautiful as ever. Many prayers and speedy recovery God bless

[@albanymountainhomestead]

Why do people feel so entitled to know everything? So people stepped up to help another human being, and I'll guarantee many go bankrupt with medical bills. It's a sick system and people OFFERED TO HELP WILLINGLY... the thing that gives faith in humanity again

[@europeanguy8773]

I hope she makes a full recovery. The other great gymnast of that era Elena Shushunova also had pneumonia but unfortunately passed away due to complications.

[@seannorman9169]

Thank god she is doing good and she still have that beautiful smile of hers....I saw the interview on this local channel 6 and it got me extremely sad,I had no idea this could happen to an Olympic star who brought a powerful country to be recognized and this happened to the lady....SMH...it got me very sad when I saw her on TV walking along.....this should not have happen to Mary lou....I see her with positive vibe and that is very important for the recovery....I wish her all the luck in the world and may she recover from this unwanted sickness....I was in collage with I saw her beautiful smile and she was defying gravity at the same time.....👍🏻....my best to you and your caretaker.....❤

[@michaelsadams524]

Thank you, Today for putting a smile on my face! It is wonderful to hear that Mary Lou is recovering well and is facing it with the right attitude! This gives me so much joy! Honestly, nearly 40 years after her historic win, Mary Lou Retton is still America's sweetheart!

[@linanicolia1363]

Her smile is the same....very infectious. Lots of energy in that little woman. It is probably saving her.

[@michaelsadams524]

@@linanicolia1363, I agree!

[@andygossard4293]

Sure sounds like she's battling Al Roker's Syndrome aka vaccine poisoning

[@linanicolia1363]

Very possibly she took the jab. That would explain. It is still frowned upon, in the US.....to suggest, it could be the problem. The science tells us what is happening, but it is denied like the elephant in the room. Tragic.

[@blue-ch7ik]

Give me your money, and I want my privacy.. Hmmm

[@larrys4837]

The apples don't fall far from the tree.

[@mariannerankins9708]

What do you mean.. Not insured ? What does America do with sick uninsured Citizens?

[@bz3548]

They applied for Medicaid.

[@catherineparker9748]

@@bz3548 you have to be low income to get medicaid. there are many many people that make too much money to get help with insurance and not enough to be able to afford to buy insurance

[@maryarney1350]

Mostly they ate told to set up a go fund me or to die quietly elsewhere. If they die without insurance, the hospital will take everything from their estate.

[@linanicolia1363]

Nothing. Hospitals want money upfront when people have no insurance. If you have a car wreck or you are shot at or stabbed and left by the road, you will be taken to a regional, trauma center that does not ask for proof of insurance or money. However, when you get better, these issues have to be handled. There is no free lunch, and no free healthcare. We see now, hospitals putting patients out by the curb if they cannot pay their bills. The security takes them out, with their hospital gown and a blanket. How nice ! Do you wonder where all of these homeless people come from ? I have a clue.

[@laskahusky7313]

how come she didnt have health insurance....its a scam. she raised $500k from donations....its like stealing. She could have worked at McDonalds or Wall Mart and have health insurance through these companies or is she too good to work at companies like these. Lazy. Lazy. Spoiled. I do not feel sorry for her. Entitled!!!

[@bz3548]

An honest person would have disclosed the distribution of the gifts received, after all, donations were public information. If that would have been me, I would have show the public a list of the bills paid by the donations, to show the donors gratitude and honesty. The way she’s handling looks too suspicious.

[@jodiross1902]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@bess8523]

🙏🏻

[@jz3689]

This is a total hoax and the law enforcement needs to investigate this. She should had had health insurance and whatever is left over should be given back.

[@linanicolia1363]

NO hoax and you are very rude and mean. You have no clue how high hospital bills are, when you go to the ICU. I think all that money will be gone, to the hospital and the rest of the establishment , MD's, pulmonologists, respiratory equipment etc......Not cheap. You blow a million$ in no time.....

[@Lynn-zx3th]

Wow, I wish I was famous, and could put up a go fund me to help get me out of my situation. In December of 2021 I went to the ER had to be transferred to a bigger/more qualified hospital. I had to be put in a medically induced coma for the first 13 days they ran every test possible on me finally they started giving me prednisone, and my lungs started clearing up within 2 or 3 days I could be woke up & have the tube out. Anyway I was diagnosed with a very rare pneumonia that’s not viral, or bacterial. It’s called Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia. If this is what she has I encourage her to research it a bit.