Former MMA fighter Ben Askren has successfully received a double lung transplant. This news was shared by his wife, Amy Askren.
Askren had been hospitalized for several weeks battling severe pneumonia. About a week prior, his wife Amy provided an update stating that Ben was officially placed on the transplant list for his lungs.
On Monday morning, Amy Askren posted another update on her Facebook page, informing everyone that the former UFC, Bellator, and ONE fighter`s surgery was successful.
In her message, Amy expressed profound gratitude: “We are so thankful to share that Ben has received a double lung transplant,” she wrote. “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.” She reflected on the sudden and drastic change in his health, noting it felt surreal that he was healthy just five weeks earlier. Amy also requested continued prayers for Ben`s body to accept the new lungs as his own.
Leading up to the transplant, Askren`s severe case of pneumonia required him to be placed on a ventilator. He was also supported by an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine for his lungs. Throughout his hospitalization, the MMA community has sent numerous prayers and messages of support, which Amy suggests have been significantly impactful.
Even his past opponent, Jake Paul, had publicly offered to assist Askren in some capacity with the surgery following Paul`s decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. the previous Saturday.
