Mary Lou Retton Shares Health Update: ‘Continuing to Slowly Recover and Staying Very Positive’

Mary Lou Retton is on the road to recovery after a health scare that landed her in intensive care.

“I am with my family as they continue to slowly recover and I remain very positive because I know this recovery is a long and slow process,” the former gymnastics champion, 55, wrote in a statement on her Instagram profile on Monday.

While she didn’t reveal more details about what brought her to the hospital — which her daughter, McKenna Kelley, initially said was “a very rare form of pneumonia” — she said, “When the time is right, I will share more information about my health problems.”

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Retton added that she hopes that by eventually sharing her story, she “can help others who may be facing the same battle as me.”

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.”

“I am forever grateful to you all!” she added.

The five-time Olympic medalist also wrote: “I appreciate everyone’s respect for my privacy at this time,” and captioned the update: “Love you all – MLR.”

Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Jerry Cooke /Sports Illustrated via Getty

The Oct. 30 update comes a week after Kelley, 26, announced that the gymnastics icon had been released from a Texas hospital after weeks of pneumonia.

“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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Earlier this month, Kelley broke the news that her mom was hospitalized and “fighting for her life.”

“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 had raised over $459.00 as of Monday afternoon.

“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.”

Mary Lou Retton is recovering at home after a stay in intensive care, the gymnast announced on Instagram.

Eric McCandless via Getty

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In a statement to PEOPLE at the time, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, Retton’s oldest daughter, said the family’s No. 1 concern was “our mom’s well-being.”

“With that being said, being with her is our first priority,” Schrepfer, 28, added.

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During Mom’s stay in the ICU, the sisters spoke of the outpouring of support for Mom.

“My sisters and I are overjoyed – overjoyed,” Schrepfer said on Instagram. “We didn’t realize there were so many people who loved her as much as we did and it was a very difficult time for our family.”

“And just because we saw that people love her like that, showed her that support meant the world to us and to her, so thank you,” she added.

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Source: HIS Education