Mary Lou Retton has returned HOME after ‘scary setback’ in her fight against rare form of pneumonia, as family reveal US Olympic legend is in ‘recovery mode’ after leaving the ICU

U.S. Olympian Mary Lou Retton has returned home after a “scary setback” in her battle with a rare form of pneumonia, her daughter said Monday.

Retton was hospitalized earlier this month with her daughter McKenna Kelley and revealed her mother was “fighting for her life.”

But Kelley has now been able to share a hugely positive update about the former gymnast.

“Mommy is HOME and in recovery mode. We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but small steps,” she wrote on Instagram.

“We are overwhelmed by everyone’s love and support. Grateful does not scratch the surface of the attitude of our hearts.”

The 55-year-old’s daughter provided another update on her condition on Monday afternoon

“Thank you Jesus, thank you doctors and nurses, thank you to this loving community of support,” she ended the statement.

Retton’s family had set up a Spotfund page to help pay the medical bills, which surpassed $450,000 last week – the goal was $50,000.

Retton, 55, captured five medals (one gold, two silver, two bronze) at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

She made history by becoming the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around competition.

Another daughter of hers, Shayla Kelly Schrepfer, posted an update on Instagram last Wednesday evening that there had been a “scary setback.”

“Actually, at the beginning of this week we were so excited and seeing so much progress, and then yesterday we had a pretty scary setback,” she wrote.

“She’s still in intensive care, and we’re still working through some things as far as her setback goes.

She won two Olympic silver and bronze medals that same year, in addition to her gold medal

Her daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, shared an update on her mother’s condition

‘I just wanted to give an update there. She had a better day today, which is great – she’s really exhausted.

‘Thanks again for the support. I get so many messages and emails and it’s so great to see people loving her.”

Before that, Schrepfer, the eldest of Retton’s four daughters, called her mother’s progress “truly remarkable.”

“Although she remains in intensive care, her path to recovery is steadily unfolding,” Schrepfer wrote of Retton. ‘Her fighting spirit really shines!

‘Her breathing becomes stronger and her dependence on machines decreases.’

Before that, her other daughter McKenna Kelley said Retton “couldn’t breathe on his own” and had been in intensive care for more than a week.

After her retirement, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Three years ago, she became the first woman selected to the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.