Emotional Ben Askren speaks from hospital bed: 'It was like I got to have my own funeral'
In an emotional video posted to his social media account Wednesday, Askren provided a health update himself for the first time since he was hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia that ultimately led to a lung transplant.
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"I haven't given you an update in a while and figure you deserve one," Askren said. "Whenever this is all the way over. I just read through my wife's journal because I don't remember anything from May 28 to July 2. I have no recollection. No idea. No idea what happened. We'll kind of go through it all. I just kind of read through my wife's journal. It's like a movie. It's ridiculous."
Askren, 40, said more details about his specific issues might be posted in the coming days. However, Askren revealed he died four times at some point during the recent sequence of events – and lost 50 pounds in 45 days.
"I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds," Askren said. "That's not ideal. You guys know that. But I got a double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it, gaining quite a bit of strength, learning to use everything again. I was actually on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven't been 147 pounds since I was 15 years old. I lost 50 pounds in a 45-day period. So, man. That was a battle. Obviously, I don't remember most of it."
Askren became most emotional when he spoke about the support and messages he's received. His hospitalization and near-death experience sent shockwaves through the wrestling and combat sports communities.
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"The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody," Askren said. "It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. Right? I still remember 30 years ago when Dave Schultz died and you listen to all these older people recollect how much they enjoyed him and how much they loved him. Obviously, he never got to hear that. ... So, the outpouring of love from the wrestling community was amazing. It felt so good. I'm more motivated than ever to give back and do what I can. I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. This has been tough, not only on me but my whole family, and my close community. I appreciate everything. I hope you guys appreciate the update. Like I said, sometime down the road maybe Amy and I can detail everything a little more."
Prior to Wednesday's update, Askren's wife Amy had periodically updated the world on social media about her husband's condition. She initially revealed the news of a serious medical issue on June 7. As of June 17, he was sedated on a ventilator. News that Askren underwent a lung transplant came June 30.
The news has drawn widespread reaction from the combat sports world, with numerous athletes, wrestlers, and the UFC publicly expressing thoughts and prayers for the former ONE and Bellator champion. The UFC's June 14 broadcast featured a segment wishing Askren well.
A T-shirt fundraiser has been launched to help with Askren's medical bills, as well as his mission to help support high-level athletes. This past Saturday, after his win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Jake Paul used his post-fight interview time to express support for Askren and raise awareness about his life-changing situation.
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Askren retired from MMA in 2019 but returned for a one-off boxing bout vs. Paul in 2021. Widely considered one of the greatest amateur wrestlers in U.S. history, Askren remains heavily involved with the wrestling community and recently joined Hulk Hogan's Real American Freestyle.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ben Askren speaks in emotional hospital video after lung transplant
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