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The former UFC Ben Askren’s wife, Amy, revealed that her husband received a double lung transplant.
Askren has been in the hospital treated with a serious case of pneumonia for several weeks. Amy Aksren wrote that her husband was on a vital support for some time before receiving the transplant.
She wrote Monday on Facebook that, after weeks of waiting for a donor, her husband finally found one.
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Ben Askren is in his corner before his Welter weight fight against Demian Maia in Brazil during the UFC fight event in the Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty Images)
“We are always grateful to the donor and his family,” Amy wrote. “This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, but every new day is a gift. It still does not feel real that I was walking completely healthy only 5 weeks ago. Much can change so fast.
“Please keep Ben in his prayers so that his body accompanies the new lungs as if they were his.”
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Amy said on June 24 that Ben was placed on the list of transplants.
A donation page was established to help finance Askren’s treatment earlier this month, and was updated by Amy nine days after she went to say that Ben was in a fan.
He added that doctors could “dismiss their sedation enough to open their eyes and squeeze their hands.”
The Olympic Ben Askren points to the crowd when he enters the mat to face his Olympic partner and the native of New Jersey, Jordan Burroughs (not in the photo) during the rhythm of the streets “Grapple in the garden” on Monday, May 6, 2019, in New York. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjesey.com)
“I am constantly amazed at all the people who take us right now,” Amy continued. “I can’t wait to tell Ben everything. I hope that in the next few weeks Ben can give the next update, but I hope I wait until drugs disappear.”
Askren retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 after having a 19-2 record. He only fought three times in UFC, winning only one of his fighting.
In 2021, he also fought against Jake Paul in a boxing match, where he was knocked out in the first round.
Paul recently said that he plans to donate Askren to help with medical bills after his recent fight against Julio César Chávez Jr.
Ben Askren prepares to enter the Octagon before his Welter weight fight against Demian Maia in Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event in the Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty Images)
Askren was also a fighter, winning two NCAA titles, while representing the United States at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
