Mary Lou Retton Reveals Her Daughters Said ‘Their Goodbyes’ to Her During Health Battle

Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton says she was so sick with a rare form of pneumonia last year that at one point, her daughters were “saying their goodbyes” to her, fearing that she would not survive the night.

The gymnast, 55, appeared Monday in her first TV interview since she was suddenly hospitalized with the life-threatening condition in October. Speaking on NBC’s Today show, Retton credited a neighbor with saving her life and shared her gratitude that she’s still here to tell her story.

Retton, who won gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics, used a portable oxygen tank throughout the interview. Shayla Schrepfer, Retton’s daughter, also sat in on the interview as Retton is unable to remember much about what happened during her monthlong hospitalization, which was first revealed by her children in October.

Read more at The Daily Beast.