The family of famed Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton has been overwhelmed by the support they’ve received since the family went public with Retton’s scary ongoing health battle.
In an Instagram post, her oldest daughter Shayla Kelley Schrepfer said that she hadn’t realized how many people “love her just as much as we do.”
Another one of Retton’s daughters, McKenna Kelley, had set up a Spotfund page to help raise money to pay for medical expenses for the gold medalist, who has been “fighting for her life” against a rare form of pneumonia.
The donation page has far surpassed its goal of $50,000, having received more than $375,000.
“First and foremost, thank you so much for all the love and support that you’ve given to my mom,” Shayla said in the Instagram video. “My sisters and I are overwhelmed. We didn’t even realize that there’s so many people out there that love her just as much as we do.
“And It’s been a really hard time for our family, and so just seeing that people love her like and showing her that support has just meant the world to us and to her.”
Retton became a household name and American icon in 1984 when she became the first American woman to take gold in the individual all-around competition at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
She went home with five medals all together that year and shot to stardom, which included a number of TV and film appearances over the years and being named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year in 1984.
In the video, Shayla said that her mother was “still fighting” and that it would be a “day-by-day process.”
She ended the video by asking people to continue to pray for her mother and reiterating her thanks to everyone for “the love and support.”
In an interview with People, Michelle Dusserre Farrell, who competed with Retton at the 1984 games, also expressed her support for her former teammate.
“Our team has had a sister-like bond that has been in place for almost four decades, and we know firsthand how strong she is,” Farrell said.
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