Seven months ago, Mary Lou Retton, America’s first-ever all-around golden girl at the Olympics, found herself on the brink of being put on life support. Her long and arduous battle began with a heartfelt message from her daughter, McKenna Kelley, on social media. McKenna started a fundraising campaign on Spotfund, saying, “We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill.”

What started as a goal of $50,000 quickly garnered nearly $500,000 in donations. Today, as Mary Lou embraces her family and loved ones, she shares that she is ready to trade her Olympic glory for the greatest blessing of her life.

Mary Lou Retton reveals that her greatest blessing in life isn’t her Olympic medals

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight’s Deidre Behar, Mary Lou Retton opened up about her ongoing battle with pneumonia since October 2023, her day-by-day road to recovery, and her hopes and goals for the future. A standout moment in the interview was when Retton recounted how she was on the verge of being put on a ventilator, and her daughters even said their goodbyes.

However, due to her resilience and her daughters’ steadfast support, Retton overcame the terrifying ordeal. She shared that her daughters are her biggest inspirations, “They’re extraordinary young women and my biggest accomplishment. Take my five medals. I’ll take my daughters over that anytime.” As we contemplate these words, let us delve into how a critical decision by her medical team in the eleventh hour became the turning point that saved her life.

A last-moment life-saving effort by her doctors

In January 2024, Mary Lou Retton and her daughter McKenna Kelley granted an exclusive interview to TODAY’s Hoda Kotb. The heartbreaking moment when the family gathered around Mary Lou’s bedside, bidding their farewells and offering prayers, was emphasized. McKenna shared that she whispered to her mother, “It’s okay. You can go.” Hoda then revealed that as Mary Lou’s daughters prayed fervently, doctors rushed in with a last-ditch effort: pumping high-flow oxygen through her nose.

McKenna, in awe of her mother’s resilience, remarked, “She’s the one in a million that wins the Olympics. But she’s also one in a million that will get some rare form of pneumonia that you don’t know what it is but she’ll make it through.” After a month, Mary Lou’s lungs began to heal, prompting her doctors to discharge her.

As she continues to navigate her journey of recovery, Retton eagerly anticipates her daughter’s upcoming wedding in the fall and the arrival of her first grandchild, a baby girl named Penelope, due in July. Mary Lou’s remarkable resilience shines through, and we commend her daughters for serving as her strong anchor during this challenging storm.