Former UFC and Bellator fighter Ben Askren received a double lung transplant and is recovering in a Wisconsin hospital. For the first time since being hospitalized in late May, Askren was able to provide an update on his condition.
On Wednesday, “Funky” posted a video to Instagram from his hospital bed. Emotional, Askren was touched by the outpouring of support from the wrestling and combat sports communities.
“What’s up guys. Have not given you an update in a while. I figured you deserved one. Whenever this is all over, I just read my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2. No recollection. No idea what happened,” Askren said in the video.
“I read through my wife’s journal. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous. So, I only died four times. The ticker stopped for about 20 seconds. But I got the double lung transplant. I made it out to the other side of it. I’m gaining quite a bit of strength.”
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Through the ordeal, Askren has lost a significant amount of weight. Yesterday, he weighed 147 pounds, a weight he hasn’t seen since he was a teenager.
“I was actually on a scale yesterday. 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 pounds since 15 years-old. It’s like 50 pounds in a 45-day period,” he said. “Man, that was a battle although I don’t remember most of it.”
Askren got emotional discussing the outpouring of support he and his family has received and vowed to use it as motivation moving forward.
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love and thoughts from everybody. It’s almost like I got to have my own funeral,” said Askren. “The outpouring of love from the wrestling community was just amazing. It felt so good. I’m more motived than ever to keep giving back and do what I can and help out the best I can help out. I love you guys. I appreciate you guysl
“This has been tough, not only on me but my whole family and my close community, so I appreciate everything.”
