Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Asks for 'Continued Prayers' Amid ICU Stay

Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton's family is asking the public to continue praying for the former Olympian, who has been in the intensive care unit for over a week now.

Retton, 55, has been hospitalized while dealing with a rare form of pneumonia, an illness that her daughter McKenna Kelley said has left her mom "fighting for her life."

Kelley announced the news of her mom's hospitalization via Instagram on Tuesday, Oct. 10, sharing the link to a SpotFund fundraiser page on behalf of the former athlete, who is apparently uninsured.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Kelley released a new update about her mom's condition, revealing that the Olympic gold medalist "continues to fight," while remaining in the ICU.

On behalf of herself and her three other sisters, Skyla, Shayla and Emma, Kelley expressed her gratitude to those who have lent support to their family during this difficult time, while asking for "continued prayers and positive thoughts" for Retton.

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"She is getting incredible medical care!" Kelley noted in the statement, adding, "Thank you to all the doctors and nurses!"

After the news of Retton's hospitalization first made headlines on Tuesday, the Olympic legend's former Dancing With the Stars pro parter Sasha Farber spoke out to deliver an update on Retton's condition.

"I've been talking to her today and she's fighting," said Farber, 39, after Tuesday night's DWTS episode. 

"She kind of wants to give up," he explained. "But I'm sending her videos of her dancing and I'm telling her, 'There's only one Mary Lou Retton. You've got this!'"

Plus, "She's a fighter," Farber said of Retton. "I know her very well. And she's like family to me and she's a fighter... she's strong. She's strong."

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