Legendary American gymnast Mary Lou Retton spoke to NBC about coming down with pneumonia and thinking she was going to die. today's show If a caring neighbor hadn't checked on her at home the day she was taken to the hospital, she probably would have died today.
She was a star athlete at the 1984 Summer Olympics, winning one gold medal, two silver medals, and two bronze medals, including an individual all-around title. Retton became the first American woman to win her individual all-around title.
Retton, 55, now uses an oxygen machine as his lungs continue to heal. She still can't take a deep breath, she said.
“This is serious, this is life, and I'm so grateful to be here,” Retton said. “I’m lucky to be here because there were times when I almost had to be put on life support.”
Retton and his daughter, Sheila Schlepfer, were getting their nails done in October when Retton started feeling tired. The next day, her neighbor became concerned when she saw Retton's car door open. A neighbor who lived across the street found Retton lying on his bedroom floor, struggling to breathe.
“She came into the house. She knew my code and she saw me and found me,” Retton said. “And Magda saved my life.”
Soon, her oxygen saturation dropped to the 70s, well below the normal 95-100 range.
Doctors considered putting her on a ventilator. Her daughters prayed for her, she said. today.
“They were saying goodbye to me,” Retton said.
Thankfully, her oxygen levels increased enough that she didn't need to be placed on a ventilator. Doctors still don't know what causes the pneumonia. She tested negative for Covid-19, influenza and RSV.
Doctors hope to perform a lung biopsy once she recovers.
“I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. today. “So it's a day-to-day recovery period.”
Retton said there are more “positives” than “negatives” in her life.
“I can't say I'm great yet and I know it's going to be a really long road. I don't know how long I'll need oxygen. But I'm grateful for how blessed and grateful I am this holiday season. You probably don't know,” Retton said.
Photo courtesy: @Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel / staff
Video provided by: TODAY (via YouTube)
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
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