The Olympic gymnast was hospitalized for a rare form of pneumonia in October.
As a result, Retton, 55, is just happy to be alive.
“This is serious, and this is life, and I’m so grateful to be here.
Mary Lou Retton.David Livingston/Getty Images
The five-time Olympic medalist said it simply wasn’t in her nature to back down in times of hardship.
“I have so much to look forward to,” Retton said.
“I’m a fighter and I’m not going to give up.
I have no idea what the future holds for me.
I don’t know if Im going to have lasting issues with my lungs.
They don’t know.
I wish I had answers.
But I will never give up, it’s not in me.”
She also began a fundraising page to collect donations for her mother’s hospital bill.
Retton told Kotb that she couldn’t afford insurance prior to her hospital stay.
“I couldn’t afford it.
But who would even know that this was going to happen to me?
That’s the bottom line, I couldn’t afford it.
Watch the video above for more from Retton.
