In a recent health update, former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton revealed that her doctors are still baffled by her condition, even after her stay in the ICU last fall.
During a candid conversation with Entertainment Tonight, the gold medalist confessed that her doctors "still don't have a clue what's going on." She elaborated, "They're calling it a rare form of pneumonia, but all my tests for viruses, bacteria, fungi—everything—came back negative. It's truly a medical puzzle."
Retton confirmed that her case remains a mystery to medical professionals. Last October, she was hospitalized in the ICU after suffering from a mysterious illness that severely affected her lungs. The news came to light when her daughter Kelly set up a fundraiser on Spotfund to help cover her mother's mounting medical bills. After spending several weeks in the hospital, Retton was finally released.
Now, the former gymnast admits that her lungs are "pretty scarred up and they're not going to heal completely." When asked if the damage from her illness was permanent, Retton nodded solemnly, acknowledging that her lungs will remain scarred "forever."
She also shared that she still struggles with breathing and finding the strength to speak. "As a speaker, it's been tough not being able to work," she said. "I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to stand on a stage and deliver an hour-long talk like I've done for decades."
"It's been a tough journey," she continued. "The lungs are a delicate organ, and the recovery process is incredibly slow. I'm still relying on oxygen, and I had a relapse a while ago, but I'm slowly getting back on track."
