Mary Lou Retton slammed those who criticized her four daughters for opening a crowdsourcing fund to help cover the five-time Olympic medalist’s medical costs for her battle with a rare form of pneumonia.
“They didn’t deserve that. They were just trying to take care of me,” Retton told “Entertainment Tonight.”
“I don’t care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It’s what makes us America. Everybody’s got an opinion.”
She added: “You’re welcome to your opinion. But you weren’t in that situation. My daughters stepped up to the plate and they saved my life.”
Retton, 56, landed in the intensive care unit last year with what her family described as a rare form of pneumonia that left her “fighting for her life.”
Her daughters then set up a spotfund to help cover the costs.
“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” the spotfund reads. “She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. 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.
The spotfund, as of Thursday morning, says $459,354 has been raised by 8,324 donors.
“Entertainment Tonight” noted there have been critics of the fund concerning Retton’s wealth as a former star athlete and where the funds are being directed.
Retton confirmed, as he daughters mentioned in the post, that she did not have insurance at the time and was not making much money.
She won a gold medal, two Silvers and two bronzes during the 1984 Summer Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win the all-around competition.
“After a divorce … and then COVID hit. Literally, COVID hit. Our job is to be near people and talk to them and so there was no work whatsoever. It’s not like it used to be, let’s say that,” Retton told ET. “Height of my fame was years ago and I (was) just doing enough to make it, doing enough to pay my bills.
“I was doing that and then COVID hit and divorce took everything.”
Retton said she’s “grateful” for all the donations, and maintained there is nothing nefarious happening with the funds since she’s still paying the bills.
“It’s only going to medical bills. Only,” said Retton, who added she’s now insured. “And then what is left, I think I want to give it to the American Lung Association.”
She added: “You can’t imagine from ambulance bills to everything. I couldn’t have done it without my daughters. I just couldn’t have. I mean, I don’t know where I’d be.”
Retton said she is still on oxygen, adding that she is sick of the air support tubes she has to wear in her nose, and lamented how she cannot do the things she loves.
“I still have a hard time breathing and getting breath to speak, and I’m a speaker,” Retton said. “Haven’t been able to really work because I don’t know if I can get up on stage and do an hour-long talk like I’ve normally done for 40 years. That’s frustrating. It’s been hard, I have to say. The lungs are a different beast, it’s a different beast, it’s a very long recovery. I’m still on oxygen. Had a bit of a relapse a while ago, but I’m back. I’m back and regulated. It’s more discouragement than anything.”
Through all the hardships, Retton has leaned on her daughters for support.
“They were just wonderful at my side constantly,” Retton said.
