Olympian Mary Lou Retton has received an outpouring of support as she battles a rare form of pneumonia. 'Mattress Mack' has donated $50,000.
Texas businessman Jim McIngvale, better known as 'Mattress Mack,' is among those who have Olympic icon Mary Lou Retton in his thoughts and prayers as she battles a rare form of pneumonia. The Gallery Furniture owner, along with his wife Linda, donated $50,000 to a fundraiser set up for the former gymnastics star to help cover the cost of her medical bills. The family said Retton does not have medical insurance.
McIngvale told TMZ Sports that his wife went through a similar health scare. 'My parents taught me, and I try to teach my children, and Linda certainly lives that life, that the essence of living is giving,' he said. 'People get in a hard spot, let's help 'em out because one of these days, all of us will be in a hard spot.
We followed Mary Lou since her career in Houston,' he said. 'My wife and I have always been a huge support of Béla and Márta Károlyi's gymnastics team. My son worked out with them on the team for years, my daughter did as well. 'Mary Lou was always a shining point of light, as George Bush would say, and we pray for Mary Lou's recovery and the $50,000 is the least we could do to help an American icon get better.
We didn’t even realize that there are so many people out there that love her just as much as we do,' she said in a video. 'And it’s been a really hard time for our family. And so just seeing that people love her like that and showing her that support has just meant the world to us and to her, so thank you.' The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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