Ben Askren Looks Back On His Recovery – ‘I Am So Grateful’
Ben Askren looked back on the six months since the life-saving double lung transplant that defined his year.
In June 2025, Askren was hospitalized with necrotizing pneumonia—a severe complication resulting from a staph infection. Askren revealed that his heart stopped four times during his 45-day stay in the ICU. He has no memory of the events between May 28 and July 2, 2025, later piecing the timeline together by reading his wife Amy’s journal.
Ben admitted he lost 50 pounds in just over six weeks, dropping to 147 lbs. The infection caused irreparable damage to his lungs, so Askren underwent a double lung transplant on June 30, 2025. Initially, his insurance company refused to cover the costs of the procedure. Former rivals Jorge Masvidal and Jake Paul were among those who reached out. Reflecting on his progress in December 2025, Askren was grateful.
Askren Reacts
“6 MONTHS post transplant today!!! The last 6 months brought so many tough days and even as they are starting to get easier I know I’m still a long way off normal. The last 6 months have also brought so many amazing moments to me through relationships with friends, getting to spend more time with my family and becoming a believer. Sometimes life hits you hard, but it is vital to accept it and choose to move forward the best you can. Whether it was in person or on socials I am so grateful for all of the support, it was very inspiring to me,” Askren said
Askren also expanded on the lessons he learned during this health struggle. He admitted that being around for others is critical, something he experienced first-hand. As he continues to recover from a tough year, he had nothing but gratitude.
“There were people showing up when I wasn’t awake, helping with my kids, sending prayers, and everything. If there’s one thing I’m personally going to try to do better, it’s show love to other people, pay attention to when other people are going through hard times, and make sure I’m there for them,” Askren added
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