Mary Lou Retton’s Daughter Thanks Fans For Support During Mom’s Health Scare
By Movieguide® Contributor
Mary Lou Retton’s daughter Shayla Schrepfer is looking back on 2023 and thanking people for their support following her mother’s pneumonia battle.
“2023 you were a YEAR,” she captioned a video of clips from the year. “The highs were SO high, but the lows were the LOWEST lows. I can easily say 2023 has been the hardest year of my life.”
Schrepfer continued, “Thank you to everyone that has helped me through such a difficult year. Bring it on 2024!”
Retton was admitted to the hospital in October of 2023 with pneumonia. Her family set up a crowdfunding page to pay for the former Olympian’s medical expenses.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own,” daughter McKenna wrote. “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.”
The page quickly raised over $400,000 of its $50,000 goal.
The daughters later updated fans on Retton’s condition in a joint statement, saying she was “responding so well to treatments.”
“Prayers have been felt and answered,” they continued.
Movieguide® previously reported on Retton’s return from the hospital:
Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton is home from the hospital and “in recovery mode” after contracting a rare form of pneumonia.
“We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” the former Olympian’s daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on Instagram. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts.”
She added, “Thank you Jesus, thank you doctors & nurses, thank you to this loving community of support.”
