- Celebrities. Mary Lou Retton Net Worth: How much did the legendary American gymnast earn?
- Celebrities. Mary Lou Retton shares first public words while recovering from pneumonia
Mary Lou Retton appears to be on the road to recovery following a scare with pneumonia in October and as the former-Olympic gymnast celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with her family, she declared her gratefulness for anyone who had supported her.
The gold medalist spent October in an intensive care unit as her family pleaded for any support to help her cover the medical bills through a fundraising page, which would go on to earn over $459,000 for the athlete.
She was released from hospital later that month, much to the delight of her family, and she noted that she is glad to be with them on the November 23 holiday.
"As we gather to celebrate this Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with profound gratitude," Retton said in a post on Instagram. "I want to express how truly blessed and thankful I am to be slowly improving and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital.
"The love and support of my four amazing daughters have been a source of strength and inspiration throughout my journey. Their presence in my life is a testament to the incredible bonds of family."
The statement came in a photo of her and her family at various stages in their lives such as a wedding, walking in the street or in a garden as she reminisces on the times she's shared with them in good health.
It didn't contain any images of her career in gymnastics or her success at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where she claimed four medals including a gold.
Reminded of the value of life
Pnuemonia, which is an inflammatory condition of the lungs, affects 450 million people per year and kills three million, making it the fourth leading cause of death in 2016.
Over 1.5 million American adults are struck with the condition, and 50,000 go on to die. Retton managed to avoid being part of the latter statistic and explained a new appreciation of life.
On this day of giving thanks," Retton said. "I am reminded of the preciousness of life, the love that surrounds me, and the resilience of the human spirit."