Mary Lou Retton's 'DWTS' Partner Sasha Farber Gives Update on Her Health Crisis
Sasha Farber and Mary Lou Retton
Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber delivered an update about his former celebrity partner, Mary Lou Retton, who is currently dealing with a serious medical crisis.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the former gymnast's daughter McKenna Kelly shared that her mom is "fighting for her life" in the ICU, where she's been staying for over a week now while being treated for a rare form of pneumonia.
Following the news of Retton's alarming condition, Entertainment Tonight asked Farber—who danced with Retton during Season 27 in 2018—about his former partner's health status after Tuesday night's episode of the ballroom dancing competition show.
"I've been talking to her today and she's fighting," said Farber, 39, who is currently competing alongside celebrity partner Alyson Hannigan.
"She kind of wants to give up," he said of Retton, 55. "But I'm sending her videos of her dancing and I'm telling her, 'There's only one Mary Lou Retton. You've got this!'"
According to the initial post from Retton's daughter, the Olympic gold medalist "is not able to breathe on her own," but Farber is still holding out hope that she will push through.
"She's a fighter. She's going to be great," the pro dancer stated. "I know her very well. And she's like family to me and she's a fighter... she's strong. She's strong."
Retton—who was fifth to get eliminated during her run with Farber on DWTS—is reportedly uninsured, according to her daughter, which is why her family is trying to raise money to help pay for hospital bills.
"We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill," Kelley wrote on the SpotFund fundraising page that has been set up for her mom. "ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!"
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