Inside Olympian Mary Lou Retton's House Where She Fights for Life with Support from Her 4 Daughters

• Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics, is battling a rare form of pneumonia at her home in Texas.
• She is surrounded by the love and support of her four daughters, who asked for financial help from fans.
• Take a look inside Mary Lou's house, where she fights for her life and shares her memories, struggles, and hopes.

56-year-old Mary Lou Retton is grateful to be alive and has a story to tell. She is currently recuperating in her Texas home after facing a rare form of pneumonia that forced her to stay in the ICU for a month. However, she is no stranger to facing challenges and overcoming them. Mary Lou, a name synonymous with athleticism and tenacity, made a mark in history on August 4, 1984.

The coveted individual all-around gold medal in women's gymnastics was within reach, and Mary Lou seized it with a performance that left the world in awe. Executing a flawless vault — a complete back somersault in layout position with a full twist — she scored a perfect ten, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics.

The then-16-year-old dynamo from Fairmont, West Virginia, faced immense pressure, trailing Romania's Ecaterina Szabo by a mere 5-hundredths of a point. But Mary Lou thrived under pressure, knowing that anything less than a ten would result in a tie with Szabo. She'd later say, "I vault best under pressure." Her determination paid off as she landed her vault with impeccable precision, standing upright and motionless, a picture of perfect form.

The feeling, as Mary Lou said, was indescribable: a rush of goosebumps and a certainty that she had nailed it. Mary Lou performed her second vault in a display of sheer exuberance and for the delight of the 9,023 spectators at Pauley Pavilion. Even though she couldn't surpass her first score, she matched it, scoring another perfect ten.

The final tally revealed Mary Lou's victory, with 79.175 points to Szabo's 79.125. Mary Lou has been fighting for her life since October last year with this same resilience and determination. Her unexpected illness struck on an ordinary day. Mary Lou, who says she is a "very private" individual by nature, was enjoying a day of relaxation and preparation for a much-anticipated "girls' trip" to Dallas, Texas, with her eldest daughter, Shayla Schrepfer.

As they sat in the nail salon, Shayla noticed her mother's fatigue, and her struggle to keep her eyes open. Later that evening, Mary Lou's words began to lose their coherence, but the family dismissed it as mere dehydration. The following day, Mary Lou was found lying on her bedroom floor, gasping for breath. Unbeknownst to her, she was in the throes of a rare and life-threatening form of pneumonia.

Observing an open car door in Mary Lou's driveway, a vigilant neighbor who lived across the street and a close friend decided to investigate. Fortuitously, she knew Mary Lou's house code, enabling her to enter just in the nick of time. She swiftly escorted Mary Lou to the emergency room.

She was later sent to a hospital, where she spent a grueling month in the intensive care unit, battling for her life. Reflecting on the incident, Mary Lou acknowledged, "Magda pretty much saved my life." Mary Lou's four daughters — Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma Jean Kelley — rallied around their mother, sharing her story with the public and starting an online fundraiser to cover her medical expenses.

As Mary Lou's condition worsened, the doctors considered putting her on life support. Her daughters prayed, fearing they were saying their final goodbyes. But Mary Lou, ever the fighter, managed to hold on until her oxygen levels stabilized, avoiding needing a ventilator. She was finally able to return to her Texas home later in the month, continuing her recovery surrounded by her loving children.

In a startling revelation, Mary Lou, who is known as America's first female all-around gymnastics gold medal winner, could not afford health insurance. This prompted her daughters to seek financial assistance from fans. They initiated a crowdfunding campaign on spotfund.com, openly disclosing Mary Lou's lack of medical insurance and their need for help with the mounting hospital bills.

Mary Lou's daughter, McKenna, who initiated the campaign, wrote, "My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life." In the heartfelt plea, McKenna asked for prayers and expressed gratitude in advance for any help, emphasizing that any support would benefit Mary Lou and the family immensely.

Months after leaving the hospital, Today magazine visited her home, where she opened up about why she wasn't insured. She admitted, "When COVID hit, and after my divorce, I couldn't afford it." Adding to her financial burden was a long list of pre-existing conditions, remnants of an aggressive gymnastics career that demanded over 30 orthopedic surgeries.

Mary Lou publicly announced her divorce from her husband of 27 years, Shannon Kelley, in November 2018 during an episode of "Dancing with the Stars." Mary Lou and Shannon, who tied the knot in 1990, didn't have a singular moment that led to their separation.

Instead, a gradual drift apart culminated in their divorce in February 2018. Despite the loneliness that accompanied this process, Mary Lou found solace in the unwavering support of their four daughters. She appreciated their support, saying, "My daughters were amazing."

Mary Lou, typically a private individual, publicly shared the news of her divorce, aiming for transparency about her personal journey. Her ex-husband, Shannon, a Houston native and product of its high school football scene, had a successful career of his own.

A former football player at the University of Texas, Shannon graduated with a degree in communications in 1989 and later earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. After years as a partner in an investment firm and a real estate developer in Houston, Shannon pursued his dream of becoming a college football coach.

He served as the quarterbacks coach at Fairmont State University in Mary Lou's hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. Shannon's coaching career also included a stint at California University of Pennsylvania, where he was the director of athletic fundraising and the running backs coach. He later coached the Houston Baptist University football program.

Their marriage resulted in four lovely daughters who have steadfastly supported their mother in her fight for life. Extensive testing has been conducted, yet the cause of Mary Lou's pneumonia remains a mystery. She tested negative for the flu, COVID-19, and RSV; bacterial and fungal causes have been ruled out. However, Mary Lou is happy to be alive. She told Today, "I am grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here."

As Mary Lou Retton gradually regains her strength, doctors plan to conduct a biopsy on her lungs to uncover the root cause of her illness. Her recovery journey is a day-by-day process with no definitive end in sight. Yet, bolstered by the unwavering support of her daughters, she faces each day with positivity and determination.