Ben Askren Undergoes Double Lung Transplant After Battle with Pneumonia
In a heartfelt update, Amy Askren, the wife of former UFC fighter Ben Askren, shared the news that her husband has received a double lung transplant. This comes after Ben faced a severe case of pneumonia that left him hospitalized for several weeks. In her recent Facebook post, Amy revealed that Ben was placed on life support before he was finally matched with a donor after weeks of waiting.
"We are forever thankful to the donor and his family," Amy expressed. "This marks the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, and every day he has is truly a gift. It’s hard to believe that just five weeks ago, he was walking around perfectly healthy. Life can change so quickly."
Amy also requested prayers for Ben, hoping that his body will accept the new lungs as if they were his own.
On June 24, Amy announced that Ben had been placed on the transplant list. Earlier this month, a donation page was created to assist with his medical expenses, and just nine days later, she updated that Ben was on a ventilator. Fortunately, doctors managed to reduce his sedation levels enough for him to open his eyes and respond to hand squeezes.
"I am constantly in awe of all the support we are receiving," Amy continued. "I can’t wait for Ben to hear about it all. I’m hopeful that in the coming weeks, he’ll be able to provide an update himself—once the medications wear off."
Ben Askren retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 with an impressive record of 19 wins and 2 losses. He fought three times in the UFC, securing victory in just one match. In 2021, he faced Jake Paul in a boxing match but was knocked out in the first round. Recently, Paul announced his intention to contribute to Askren’s medical bills following his bout against Julio César Chávez Jr.
In addition to his MMA career, Askren is also a celebrated wrestler, having won two NCAA titles and representing the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
