Legendary Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton is in the hospital and struggling with a rare form of pneumonia, her daughter recently shared online. McKenna Kelly said in a Spotfund crowdsourcing message that her mom is uninsured and asked for donations to help pay her medical bills.
Mary Lou, 55, made history in 1984 after becoming the first American gymnast to win an individual all-around gold medal, per Olympics.com. She also won silver medals in the vault and team event, and bronze medals in the uneven bars and the floor.
But what happened to Mary Lou Retton and how is she doing now? Here’s what we know, according to Women’s Health magazine:
Why was Mary Lou Retton hospitalized?
Kelly shared in the Spotfund message that her mom has a “very rare form of pneumonia,” noting that she’s “fighting for her life.” “She is not able to breathe on her own,” Kelly 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, I will disclose that she [is] not insured.”
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection that causes the lung’s air sacs (alveoli) to become inflamed, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). The air sacs can fill up with fluid or pus and lead to symptoms like a cough, fever, trouble breathing, and stabbing chest pain, the ALA says.
What are the rare forms of pneumonia?
Bacterial pneumonia—that is, pneumonia caused by bacteria—is the most common form of the condition, the ALA says. However, you can also get pneumonia from a virus. Less commonly, people can develop pneumonia from a fungus. This is most common in people who have chronic health problems or weakened immune symptoms, the Mayo Clinic says.
Some people will even develop something called aspiration pneumonia, which is when you inhale food, drink, vomit, or saliva into your lungs, per the Mayo Clinic. This is more common if something disturbs your gag reflex, like a brain injury, swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs, the Mayo Clinic says.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of pneumonia can vary, but the ALA says they can include:
- A cough that can produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus
- Fever, sweating and shaking chills
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough
- Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
How is pneumonia treated?
Treatment for pneumonia largely depends on the cause, how sick you feel, your age, and any underlying health conditions you may have, the ALA says. If pneumonia is caused by bacteria, doctors will usually prescribe an antibiotic; if it’s viral, you made need an anti-viral medication, per the ALA. Antifungal medications are recommended for fungal pneumonia.
Beyond that, doctors will often have patients take anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs for pain and fever, and urge them to drink plenty of fluids and rest, the ALA says.
Why can’t she breathe on her own?
Pneumonia is a serious condition and it can be deadly. If it’s severe or you have chronic underlying lung disease, you may need to be hospitalized and use a ventilator while your lungs heal, the Mayo Clinic says.
Her daughter started a fund for her medical bills.
Kelly reached out about her mother’s condition to ask people to help pay for her medical bills. “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,” she wrote. “ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!”
So far, the fund has raised over $400,000.
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