Ben Askren revealed he ‘died four times’ as he spoke for the first time about the frightening ordeal that left him fighting for his life.
In an update shared on his Instagram, the 40-year-old had to learn about what happened via diary entries from his wife, Amy.
“What’s up guys, have not given you an update in a while, figured you deserved one,” Askren said.
“I actually read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection, no idea what happened. We’ll kind of go through it all.
“I just read through my wife’s journal and it was like a movie. I only died four times, where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds.
“But I got the double lung transplant. I made it on the other side of it, gaining quite a bit of strength.”
Askren also revealed he now weighs just 147lbs (66kg), a weight he claimed he hasn’t been ‘since I was 15 years old’.
“So man, that was a battle. I don’t remember most of it,” he added.
The former UFC welterweight contender became emotional as he talked about the support he’d received from fans.
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody,” Askren said.
“It’s almost like I got my own funeral. So the outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing, it felt so good.
“I’m more motivated than ever to keep giving back and do what I can and help out the best I can help out.
@benaskren - InstagramThe 40-year-old provided an update on his health from a hospital bed[/caption]“I love you guys, I appreciate you guys. It’s been tough, not just on me but on my whole family and my close community.
“I appreciate everything and hope you guys appreciate the update. Sometime down the road, maybe Amy and I can detail everything a little more.”
Askren was hospitalised in June due to a severe case of pneumonia and was placed on a ventilator and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) at a hospital in Wisconsin.
He was placed on a transplant list after his body could not ‘handle coming off sedation’, according to Amy.
Thankfully a donor was found and Askren successfully underwent surgery.
“We are so thankful to share that Ben has received a double lung transplant,” Amy wrote on Facebook.
Askren has been hospitalised for over a monthGetty“We are forever thankful to the donor and his family.
“This is the beginning of a new lifestyle for Ben, but every new day he has is a gift.
“It still doesn’t feel real that he was walking around completely healthy just five weeks ago.
“So much can change so quickly. Please keep Ben in your prayers that his body welcomes the new lungs as if they were his own.
“I am constantly in awe of all the people carrying us through right now. I can’t wait to tell Ben all about it.
“I’m hopeful that in [the] coming weeks Ben will be able to give the next update.
“But hopefully he will wait until the drugs wear off [smiley emoji].”
Askren enjoyed an impressive MMA career, which included a three-fight stint with the UFC.
He linked up with the leading promotion in 2019 after dominant reigns as the welterweight champion in Bellator and ONE FC.
The 40-year-old arrived in the UFC with an impressive 19-0 record, but his zero would soon disappear.
He enjoyed a winning debut in the promotion against Robbie Lawler albeit in controversial circumstances after referee Herb Dean prematurely stopped the fight.
Four months later, Askren was on the receiving end of the fastest knockout defeat in the company’s history, courtesy of a flying knee from Jorge Masvidal in the opening five seconds.
Demian Maia then placed the final nail in Askren’s UFC career by submitting him in October 2019.
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