Mary Lou Retton fears she'll 'never be the same' after near-death pneumonia battle: 'My lungs are so scarred'

Gymnastics fable Mary Lou Retton has spoken retired connected nan devastating effects of her conflict pinch pneumonia and claimed: 'I'll ne'er beryllium nan same.' 

Retton, who famously won golden astatine nan 1984 Olympic Games successful Los Angeles, was rushed to infirmary backmost successful October aft her neighbour recovered her lying connected nan level while suffering pinch a uncommon shape of nan disease.

After being taken into intensive attraction while fighting for her life, nan 56-year-old's 4 daughters moreover said their last goodbyes to their mom aft doctors expressed fears that she wouldn't make it done nan night.

Fortunately, Retton pulled done successful nan extremity and was yet sent location by doctors aft a mates of days.

Yet aft specified a awesome wellness scare, nan erstwhile Olympic leader now fears she will ne'er decently retrieve from nan harm to her lungs.

'It’s been really hard,' she said successful an affectional question and reply pinch People. 'My lungs are truthful scarred. It will beryllium a life of recovery. 

'My physicality was nan only point I had and it was taken distant from me. It’s embarrassing.'

Retton believes she recovered from nan terrifying ordeal arsenic 'God wasn't ready' for her yet, contempt admitting that she is highly fortunate to still beryllium alive.

'Girl, I should beryllium dead,' she added. 'The doctors told them [daughters] to travel to opportunity their goodbyes.

'They prayed complete me, and McKenna said, "Mommy, it’s OK, you tin go." 

'I didn’t person overmuch of a narration pinch my mother, but I can’t ideate what that was like, to watch their mom connected her deathbed.'

As their mom battled nan uncommon shape of pneumonia successful hospital, Retton's 4 girls group up a SpotFund relationship to salary for her aesculapian bills and yet raised an estimated $500,000 successful donations.

However, nan family soon drew disapproval aft refusing to explain wherever nan donations would beryllium going, while Retton's declare to not person security was besides doubted by some.

'They didn't merit that,' Retton said successful May erstwhile asked astir nan backlash her daughters received.

'They were conscionable trying to return attraction of me. I don't attraction astir nan naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It's what makes america America. Everybody's sewage an opinion, but it is what it is.'