Mary Lou Retton, the iconic United States Olympian and gold medal-winning gymnast, took to Instagram on Thanksgiving to give an update on her health and express her gratitude to her friends, family, and fans. Retton had been hospitalized earlier in the fall with a rare form of pneumonia that left her fighting for her life in the ICU. She shared a heartfelt message, stating that she is on the road to recovery and back home with her four daughters.

In her Instagram post, Retton expressed her profound gratitude for the love and support she has received from her extended family, referring to her followers. She acknowledged that their love has been a beacon of hope in her life and emphasized the preciousness of life and the resilience of the human spirit. Retton recognized the significant role her followers have played in her journey, stating that she is eternally grateful for their support.

Retton's daughters had previously shared updates on her condition, revealing the severity of her illness. At one point, she was unable to breathe on her own. However, she began to recover, and by the end of October, she broke her silence on her health, expressing overwhelming gratitude for the support she had received. She mentioned that her recovery is a long and slow process but remained positive.

Alongside her heartfelt message, Retton shared pictures on Instagram of herself with her four daughters, cherishing the bonds of family that have been a source of strength and inspiration throughout her journey. She also expressed her gratitude to her "Foxy family," a performance wear brand she partnered with, for their constant support and friendship.

During her hospital stay, Retton's fans showed immense generosity, donating to help cover her medical expenses. They exceeded the initial target of $50,000 and raised almost half a million dollars. Various donors, including American businessman Mattress Mack and his wife, Linda McIngvale, who donated $50,000, and American food processing company Tyson Foods, who contributed $10,000, supported her cause.

Mary Lou Retton became known as "America's Sweetheart" after becoming the first American female gymnast to win the all-around Olympic gold medal in 1984 at the age of 16. She also won two silver and two bronze medals at the same Summer Olympics. Despite facing a challenging health battle, Retton remains grateful for the support she has received and hopes to share the details of her illness to aid others who may face a similar fight.