Mary Lou Retton described a life-threatening bout of pneumonia that led to an ICU stay in October 2023. In an interview aired by NBC’s Today on January 8, 2024, she said doctors had considered life support. She was home by then, but said she was not well and faced a long recovery. The interview is a dated account, not an update on her health today.
What happened to Mary Lou Retton?
In October 2023, one of Retton’s daughters said her mother had a “very rare form” of pneumonia and was in intensive care. The family and news reports did not disclose the specific type or cause of the illness, so it is not possible to identify a pathogen or a particular pneumonia subtype from the public accounts. The Washington Post reported that the illness’s specifics were not disclosed.
In her January 2024 interview, Retton recounted that she was diagnosed with pneumonia in an emergency room, went home after a few days, then was found nearly unresponsive the next day. She was admitted to another hospital’s ICU as her oxygen levels fell. Her daughter Shayla Kelley Schrepfer said doctors were unsure whether Retton would survive the night. The Associated Press reported that doctors considered a ventilator after about a week; Retton said there had been a time when they were about to put her on life support. The AP’s interview coverage and the Los Angeles Times account describe the reported course.
What did Retton say about her recovery?
Retton was released home on October 23, 2023, according to the Los Angeles Times. By the time the interview aired on January 8, 2024, she said recovery was still difficult: “I’m not great yet. I know it’s going to be a really long road,” the AP reported. She also said she did not know how long she would need oxygen or whether she would have lasting lung problems. Those statements describe her condition and uncertainty at that time; the cited reports do not establish her current medical status.
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Reflecting on the severity of the experience, Retton said: “This is different. This is serious and this is life. And I am so grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here, because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
What is known—and not known—about the pneumonia?
The family’s description of a “very rare form” does not identify a clinical subtype. The public reporting does not establish what caused Retton’s pneumonia, what treatment she received beyond the reported oxygen support and consideration of life support, or what her longer-term outcome was. Her account cannot be used to diagnose her or predict her prognosis.
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For general context only, The Washington Post’s October 2023 explainer described pneumonia as inflammation in one or both lungs caused by infection; infections may be bacterial, viral or, less commonly, fungal. Symptoms can include cough, fever, chills and difficulty breathing, and severe cases may require hospitalization, supplemental oxygen or ventilation. Judith O’Donnell, a professor of infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told the Post, “You essentially have portions of your lungs that are not working.” These are general descriptions, not details disclosed about Retton’s individual case. The Post also attributed to O’Donnell an estimate of 4.5 million outpatient and emergency-room visits for pneumonia annually in the United States; it is an estimate cited in that 2023 report, not a newly stated national figure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Retton say about insurance and the fundraiser?
In the January 2024 coverage, Retton said she had been uninsured because she could not afford coverage and told the interviewer she had insurance again. The Los Angeles Times reported that she cited a history of more than 30 orthopedic-type operations when explaining her situation. This is her reported personal account, not evidence of a broader conclusion about insurance or health care.
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Fundraiser totals were reported at the time, not as current totals: the Los Angeles Times said the family fundraiser had raised more than $450,000; the Associated Press reported nearly $460,000 from over 8,300 donations.
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