Mary Lou Retton is still unable to draw a full breath and only needs one drink to ‘throw off her brain chemistry’, her ex-brother-in-law has revealed after her recent DUI arrest.
The 57-year-old Olympic legend, who overcame a near-fatal illness back in 2023, was arrested on May 17 in Marion County for ‘driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs’ before being released after personally posting a $1,500 bond.
Just over a year since a rare form of pneumonia left her fighting for her life in a hospital ICU, news of Retton’s booze-fueled antics sparked concern as she continues to undergo treatment for long Covid and lung problems.
And according to Shaun Kelley, the brother of her ex-husband Shannon, just one drink is capable of causing a chemical imbalance in Mary Lou’s brain because of the medications she’s currently taking.
‘She couldn’t even take a full breath when I talked to her, she takes these little panting breaths,’ Shaun told The New York Post about his ex-sister-in-law, whom he says has no history of alcohol abuse.
Mary Lou Retton’s ex-brother-in-law has opened up on her arrest for driving under influence
Shaun Kelley, the brother of Retton’s ex-husband Shannon (pictured with Retton in 1994), says his former sister-in-law only needs one drink to ‘throw off her brain chemistry’
He also added: ‘She is on all these meds and one drink could throw off her brain chemistry.
Retton, who is said to be ‘healing’ well and laying low in West Virginia since the arrest, came under fire in the wake of her pneumonia battle over $500,000 worth of charity donations made to help fund her medical bills.
After her four daughters – whom she shares with Shannon – set up a crowdfunding page, the family soon drew criticism after refusing to clarify where the donations would be going. Retton’s claim to not have insurance was also doubted by some.
But seven years on from her divorce from his brother, Shaun said: ‘She’s a great mother and a giving person, she raised four amazing daughters,’ before adding that he hopes she gets better.
While there was a happy ending for her in 2023, doctors briefly feared for Retton’s life as her daughters delivered what they thought would be their final farewell to their mother.
Even now, the former gymnast fears she will never properly recover from the damage to her lungs.
‘It’s been really hard,’ she said in an emotional interview with People in 2024. ‘My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery.
Retton, who famously won gold at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, was hospitalized in October with a rare form of pnuemonia
Her four daughters faced scrutiny over $500k worth of donations they raised for their mom
‘My physicality was the only thing I had and it was taken away from me. It’s embarrassing.’
Retton believes she recovered from the terrifying ordeal as ‘God wasn’t ready’ for her yet, despite admitting that she is extremely fortunate to still be alive.
‘Girl, I should be dead,’ she added. ‘The doctors told them [daughters] to come to say their goodbyes.
‘They prayed over me, and McKenna said, ‘Mommy, it’s OK, you can go.’
‘I didn’t have much of a relationship with my mother, but I can’t imagine what that was like, to watch their mom on her deathbed.’
