Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton said she doesn't care if her daughters came under fire for the way they went about raising funds to help with her medical costs.
"They saved my life," she told Entertainment Tonight.
Retton's four daughters launched an online fundraiser after she was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia and no health insurance. It brought in more than $400,000 from fans and others around the world. But as usual, there were critics.
Retton doesn't care.
"They didn't deserve that. They were just trying to take care of me," she told ET. "I don't care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It's what makes us America. Everybody's got an opinion.
"You're welcome to your opinion. But you weren't in that situation. My daughters stepped up to the plate."
Retton, 56, confirmed that she didn't have health insurance at the time of the diagnosis and wasn't making much money.
"My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own" the spotfund reads. "She's been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured.
"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."
Retton won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition at the 1984 Olympics, along with two silver medals and two bronze medals.
