REPORT: Mary Lou Retton Back Home and in ‘Recovery Mode’ After Fight with Life-Threatening Illness

U.S. Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton is back home and recovering after a scary battle with pneumonia that threatened her life.

“Mom is HOME and in recovery mode,” one of Retton’s daughters, McKenna Kelley, wrote on Instagram. “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps.”

“We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts.”

Earlier this month, Kelley told social media followers that her mother was “fighting for her life” as she battled a rare form of pneumonia. Kelley asked for the prayers of her mother’s fans, and donations to help with medical expenses.

“Please help my mom continue to fight,” Kelley wrote.”Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details,” Keller said on the page. “However, I will disclose that she not insured.”

“We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill.”

Kelley continued, “ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!”

Retton won five medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Her gold in the individual all-around competition was the first gold in history for an American woman in that event.