McKenna Lane Kelley, the daughter of Olympic icon Mary Lou Retton, released a statement saying she was hospitalized with breathing difficulties and a rare form of pneumonia.
Kelly wrote on a GoFundMe link linked to her Instagram page that her mother had been in the intensive care unit for more than a week, “unable to breathe on her own” and “fighting for her life.”
Layton, 55, made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when she became the first American to win an individual gold medal in gymnastics. That summer he won five medals (in English), more than any other athlete.
After winning, the West Virginia native became one of the most popular gymnasts in the world and was the first in the sport to appear on a Wheaties cereal box. He retired in 1986 and became a sports commentator and appeared in several TV shows and movies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.4 million people visit emergency rooms due to pneumonia each year, and more than 400,000 people die from the disease. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses, including those that cause influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19.
Pneumonia can cause serious illness in people of any age, but children under 5 years old and older adults are most at risk. Getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent infections that cause pneumonia. The pneumonia vaccine is available to adults 65 and older and people with certain medical conditions.
5 warning signs of pneumonia include:
1. Coughing up phlegm
Pneumonia causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid, so it’s almost always accompanied by a cough, which is usually a cough.
2. Fever (or extremely low body temperature)
Most people with pneumonia have fever and chills, but sometimes older adults with pneumonia have a lower body temperature (less than 97 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. Difficulty breathing
People with pneumonia may have trouble breathing, wheeze, or feel like they are breathing faster than usual.
4. Chest pain
Unlike heart attack pain, pneumonia pain is often described as sharp or stinging, and is often more painful when you cough or take a deep breath. However, any type of new or persistent chest pain requires a trip to the emergency room.
5. Dizziness or delirium
Changes in cognition or consciousness may be a sign of pneumonia in older adults. Experts say doctors should check for infection if an older person becomes confused or appears less alert.