Former UFC Star Ben Askren Released After Double Lung Transplant

Ben Askren, the former UFC star and Olympic wrestler, has been discharged from the hospital after a grueling 59-day battle with severe pneumonia complicated by a staph infection, which led to an emergency double lung transplant. He lost nearly 50 pounds during his hospitalization and currently faces the challenge of relearning how to walk and perform basic activities. Askren revealed that his heart stopped four times for about 20 seconds each during his ordeal, and he has little memory of 35 days of his hospital stay. Throughout his recovery, Askren expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans, friends, and the combat sports community, crediting it for helping him through the toughest moments. Despite the physical hardships, he remains hopeful for the future and plans to live a long life beyond this health crisis. He continues to be surrounded by his wife Amy and their three children as he embarks on this difficult recovery journey.