“On this Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of the preciousness of life,” the former gymnast said after a health scare last month
Mary Lou Retton is holding her loved ones a little closer this Thanksgiving.
During the break, the Olympic champion, 55, shared photos of herself and her family as she reflected on the highs and lows of her year in a lengthy Instagram caption.
“As we come together to celebrate this Thanksgiving, my heart is filled with deep gratitude. I want to express how truly blessed and grateful I am to be slowly on the mend and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital,” the caption began .
It continues: “The love and support of my four amazing daughters have been a source of strength and inspiration throughout my journey. Their presence in my life is a testament to the amazing bonds of family.”
The celebrated athlete also praised her “Foxy [Foxy’s Leotards] family” because he is always there for her: “On this Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the preciousness of life, the love that surrounds me, and the resilience of the human spirit.” “Each of you has played a significant role in my journey, and for that I am eternally grateful. ”
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Retton’s reflections come amid her ongoing road to recovery after she faced a health scare in early October that landed her in intensive care.
Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, 26, first announced her mother’s condition at the time.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” she wrote in a message on the Spotfund fundraising page for Retton, which has raised over $459,000 — well over the initial goal of $50,000 .
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“She can’t breathe on her own,” she continued. “She’s been in ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I won’t reveal all the details. However, I will reveal that she’s uninsured.”
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Retton’s oldest daughter, Shayla Schrepfer, 28, also expressed that the family’s No. 1 concern was “our mom’s well-being” in a statement to PEOPLE at the time.
After the retired gymnast was released from a Texas hospital in late October, Kelley couldn’t contain her gratitude.
“Mommy is HOME recovering,” Kelley wrote in a statement on Instagram. “We still have a long road to recovery ahead of us, but with small steps.”
“We are overwhelmed by everyone’s love and support,” she continued. “Gratitude does not touch the surface of our heart.”
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Soon after, Retton took to Instagram to make her own statement about her recovery process.
“I am with the family who continues to slowly recover and remain very positive because I know that this recovery is a long and slow process,” the former athlete wrote. “When the time is right, I will share more information about my health issues.”
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Eric McCandless via Getty
The gymnastics star also wrote that she was “beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement” and said she was “overwhelmed by all the love and support in the world as I fight.”
Beyond her gratitude, she also hopes that by eventually sharing her own story, she can “help others who may be facing the same battle as me.”
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Source: HIS Education