Ben Askren Shares Recovery Update After Double Lung Transplant: 'That's Progress...'
In his latest Instagram update, Askren filmed himself pushing his walker down a sterile hospital corridor, visibly fatigued yet determined. 'I did a full lap earlier. I'm not sure if I'm going to do a full lap again. I'm gassed. I can't [do] more than one lap of walking. It gets me so tired," he confessed, voice strained but candid. Yet even amid exhaustion, a spark of optimism endured. 'That's progress. Hope you guys do the same with your life," he said.
Askren's path to this moment was harrowing.
After contracting pneumonia in late May, he spent 59 days in critical care before his failing lungs necessitated a transplant. Although his insurance fell short, a public fund and a $500,000 donation from Jake Paul ensured the surgery moved forward.
Still, as boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya pointedly criticised the UFC's fighter pay, he declared, 'They don't give a f*** about fighters," underscoring the wider struggle athletes face when health crises strike.
Now, Askren's days revolve around physical therapy and breathing exercises. Tasks that most take for granted – standing unassisted, pacing a short hallway – have become monumental victories.
In one update, he reflected on the humility of his ordeal: 'Before this, I was pretty much totally self-sufficient," he admitted. 'I didn't ask for help."
Recognising how pride once held him back, Askren now embraces his limitations as stepping stones.
'If you acknowledge what your problem is, you can solve it," he asserted. 'If you're unwilling to acknowledge it, you can't."
Social media has flooded with messages of support from fighters, journalists, and fans alike. Askren's wife documents each milestone, from rising oxygen levels to extended laps.
Though a triumphant return to competitive fighting remains uncertain, his resolve is unmistakable: to rebuild strength, reclaim independence, and savor every earned stride.
Each labored step down that hospital hall symbolises more than physical therapy – it's a testament to the warrior spirit.
Askren may have lost countless breaths to pneumonia, but he refuses to lose hope. As he continues this uphill march, one truth rings clear: true toughness isn't measured by takedowns or knockouts, but by the courage to keep moving forward when every step feels impossible.
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Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
I never considered not going out to bat against India: Chris Woakes
London, England all-rounder Chris Woakes says not going out to bat due to a dislocated shoulder against India on the final day of the fifth Test was something he never considered, even as he wondered if his career was at risk when he suffered the injury. I never considered not going out to bat against India: Chris Woakes Woakes came out with his left hand wrapped in a sling and tucked inside his sweater at the fall of the penultimate wicket with the fifth Test — which India won narrowly — tantalisingly placed. Woakes said he felt it was his "duty to do it for everyone" and that he is still gutted that England lost the game. "I don't know what it is. You just know you're part of something bigger. It's not just you that you're playing for out there," Woakes, awaiting further scans, told The Guardian. 'It's your team and your teammates, all the hard work and the sacrifices they put in, the people watching at home and in the ground. You just feel a duty to do it for everyone." "I'm still gutted, devastated really, that we couldn't get the fairytale. But I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever,' he added. Woakes said it felt nice to walk out to a standing ovation but does not read much into his heroic act. 'It was nice to have the ovation and some of the Indian players came over to show their respect. But any other player would have done the same. You couldn't just call it off at nine wickets down,' he said. Woakes revealed he began practising batting one-handed from the fourth day onwards with England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. 'I defended one normally and, oh mate, it was agony,' he said. 'We soon worked out that a left-hander's stance would shield the shoulder and at least allow me to sort of block with my top hand in control. I hit a few, missed a few, but it felt like the only way to survive,' he added. The senior England player also revealed the exchanges he had with India skipper Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant, who himself put on a similar act of bravery in the fourth Test when he batted with a broken foot. "Shubman said something like: 'That was incredibly brave,'' he said. 'I told him: 'You've had an unbelievable series, well played, and credit to your team'. Both sets of players had been through the mill in the series and deserve credit for the show we put on. Both teams wanted the win, of course, but it does kind of feel fair that it was drawn.' 'I saw Rishabh had put an image of me on Instagram with a salute emoji, so I replied thanking him: 'Appreciate the love and hope the foot is OK,' etc. Woakes added, "He then sent me a voice note saying: 'I hope all is OK, good luck with the recovery and I hope we meet again out there some day'. I obviously said sorry for the broken foot." Woakes, who did not get to face a ball, said running between the wickets was the toughest. "The first one was the worst. All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore. Instinct took over here – even with my arm strapped down I tried to run as you naturally do,' he said. "I genuinely worried my shoulder had popped back out again, hence you saw me throw my helmet off, rip the glove off with my teeth, and check it was OK." 'It was bittersweet in the end. part of me wondered what it might be like, to see if I could have defended the ball, seen out an over maybe, squeezed a run or carved a four.' He continued, 'But the other side of it was: 'Thank God I didn't face a 90mph bouncer, one-handed, facing the wrong way around'. I knew I was going to have to wear a few bouncers if I did get on strike.' Woakes wondered if the injury was career-threatening right after his slide on the first day of the Test. 'The outfield was wet from the rain, almost greasy, and my hand slipped as I landed and my full body weight went through my shoulder. I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble,' he said. 'The pain came on pretty quickly and my arm was just hanging there. It was grim and my thoughts were racing. 'Is it game over? Is it career done?' It was a horrible place to be,' he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘You're going to hurt one of us': Sophie Cunningham almost hit by sex toy in 4th such incident in WNBA
Just five days after she lashed out on Twitter against fans throwing sex toys on court during WNBA games, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham was almost hit by one herself as her team took on Sparks in an encounter in Los Angeles. This marks the fourth such incident in the women's basketball league in the span of a week. 'Stop throwing dildos on the court… you're going to hurt one of us,' Cunningham had posted on August 2 after the first incident. 'This did NOT age well,' Cunningham wrote after the incident in her own game. She also posted a photo of herself on her Instagram handle and wrote: 'No way that thing actually hit me. I knew I shouldn't have tweeted that.' After the incident — which occurred when there were 2:05 minutes left in the second quarter with Indiana trailing 41-51 — Cunningham walked over to the opposition team's bench and was seen laughing about it. When the object landed close to her, Cunningham had jumped back in surprise. Another player, Kelsey Plum, kicked it into the stands. 'I think its ridiculous, it's dumb, it's stupid,' Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. 'It's also dangerous and players' safety is number one. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it's really stupid.' Plum added that she thought both teams did a great job 'playing on, don't give it any attention. The refs too, I really appreciate them too, was just like hey let's go.' The Associated Press reported that green toys were also thrown in Phoenix and New York, but didn't reach the court. The one at Barclays Center landed near a child. A week ago the first incident occurred in Atlanta late in the fourth quarter of the Dream's game against Golden State in College Park, Georgia. A fan was arrested, according to the WNBA, and was ejected from the arena and faced a minimum one-year ban. On Friday, another sex toy was thrown in Chicago under a basket after a whistle was blown to stop play during the third quarter of Golden State's 73-66 victory over the Sky. An official kicked the object aside before it was picked up and removed. (With inputs from AP)
News18
an hour ago
- News18
I never considered not going out to bat against India: Chris Woakes
London, Aug 7 (PTI) England all-rounder Chris Woakes says not going out to bat due to a dislocated shoulder against India on the final day of the fifth Test was something he never considered, even as he wondered if his career was at risk when he suffered the injury. Woakes came out with his left hand wrapped in a sling and tucked inside his sweater at the fall of the penultimate wicket with the fifth Test — which India won narrowly — tantalisingly placed. Woakes said he felt it was his 'duty to do it for everyone" and that he is still gutted that England lost the game. 'I don't know what it is. You just know you're part of something bigger. It's not just you that you're playing for out there," Woakes, awaiting further scans, told The Guardian. 'It's your team and your teammates, all the hard work and the sacrifices they put in, the people watching at home and in the ground. You just feel a duty to do it for everyone." 'I'm still gutted, devastated really, that we couldn't get the fairytale. But I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever," he added. Woakes said it felt nice to walk out to a standing ovation but does not read much into his heroic act. 'It was nice to have the ovation and some of the Indian players came over to show their respect. But any other player would have done the same. You couldn't just call it off at nine wickets down," he said. Woakes revealed he began practising batting one-handed from the fourth day onwards with England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. 'I defended one normally and, oh mate, it was agony," he said. 'We soon worked out that a left-hander's stance would shield the shoulder and at least allow me to sort of block with my top hand in control. I hit a few, missed a few, but it felt like the only way to survive," he added. The senior England player also revealed the exchanges he had with India skipper Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant, who himself put on a similar act of bravery in the fourth Test when he batted with a broken foot. 'Shubman said something like: 'That was incredibly brave,'" he said. 'I told him: 'You've had an unbelievable series, well played, and credit to your team'. Both sets of players had been through the mill in the series and deserve credit for the show we put on. Both teams wanted the win, of course, but it does kind of feel fair that it was drawn." 'I saw Rishabh (Pant) had put an image of me on Instagram with a salute emoji, so I replied thanking him: 'Appreciate the love and hope the foot is OK,' etc. Woakes added, 'He then sent me a voice note saying: 'I hope all is OK, good luck with the recovery and I hope we meet again out there some day'. I obviously said sorry for the broken foot." Woakes, who did not get to face a ball, said running between the wickets was the toughest. 'The first one was the worst. All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore. Instinct took over here – even with my arm strapped down I tried to run as you naturally do," he said. 'I genuinely worried my shoulder had popped back out again, hence you saw me throw my helmet off, rip the glove off with my teeth, and check it was OK." 'It was bittersweet in the end. (A) part of me wondered what it might be like, to see if I could have defended the ball, seen out an over maybe, squeezed a run or carved a four." He continued, 'But the other side of it was: 'Thank God I didn't face a 90mph bouncer, one-handed, facing the wrong way around'. I knew I was going to have to wear a few bouncers if I did get on strike." Woakes wondered if the injury was career-threatening right after his slide on the first day of the Test. 'The outfield was wet from the rain, almost greasy, and my hand slipped as I landed and my full body weight went through my shoulder. I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble," he said. 'The pain came on pretty quickly and my arm was just hanging there. It was grim and my thoughts were racing. 'Is it game over? Is it career done?' It was a horrible place to be," he added. PTI DDV APA APA (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
