Ben Askren, once a dominant force in the octagon, now faces his toughest battle yet as he remains hospitalized with severe lung complications. The former UFC fighter's condition has deteriorated to the point where medical professionals are considering a lung transplant as a potential life-saving measure.
According to Breitbart, Askren was admitted to the hospital earlier this month after developing serious lung issues following a staph infection. His wife Amy has been providing updates on his condition through social media.
The situation remains critical as Askren continues to require significant medical support to sustain his breathing functions. Despite being known for his exceptional health and fitness as a professional athlete, the 40-year-old fighter's condition demonstrates how quickly medical emergencies can affect anyone.
Amy Askren broke her silence about her husband's condition in a heartfelt Facebook post on Tuesday. She explained her reluctance to share updates earlier, hoping Ben would recover enough to decide what information to make public himself.
In her post, Amy revealed that Ben remains on both a ventilator and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine to support his breathing while his body attempts to heal. His medical team has been able to reduce his sedation enough for him to open his eyes and squeeze hands during better moments, but his body cannot yet handle being fully conscious.
While still praying for a miracle recovery with his current lungs, Amy disclosed that medical teams have begun the evaluation process for a possible lung transplant. Her message conveyed both the gravity of the situation and gratitude for the support they've received during this difficult time.
Before his UFC career, Askren established himself as one of the greatest amateur wrestlers in American history. His technical prowess and unique style made him a standout competitor long before he entered the mixed martial arts arena.
Askren's UFC run, though brief, featured high-profile bouts against notable fighters including Demian Maia, Jorge Masvidal, and Robbie Lawler. After retiring from mixed martial arts competition in 2019, he made headlines again by stepping into the boxing ring against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in 2021.
Since stepping away from active competition, Askren had remained involved in the wrestling community, sharing his expertise and continuing to influence the sport that first brought him fame. His sudden health crisis has shocked fans who knew him as the picture of athletic excellence and physical conditioning.
The combat sports community has responded with an outpouring of support for Askren and his family during this critical time. Former opponents, teammates, and fans have offered prayers and well wishes across social media platforms.
Amy Askren expressed profound gratitude for this support in her update, noting how blessed they feel by their surrounding community despite the dire circumstances. She also encouraged others to prepare for unexpected medical emergencies, emphasizing that even someone as healthy as Ben could face life-threatening conditions without warning.
Medical professionals are now focused on determining whether Askren's current lungs can recover or if transplantation represents his best chance at survival. The evaluation process for organ transplantation involves extensive testing to determine candidacy and urgency.
Ben Askren's current battle dwarfs any he faced in competitive combat sports. The former UFC fighter remains in critical condition as doctors work to stabilize his lungs and breathing function following complications from what began as a staph infection.
The situation has evolved into a potentially life-altering scenario as medical teams evaluate him for possible lung transplantation. While known for his incredible resilience in competition, Askren now relies on advanced medical technology to sustain his breathing functions.
Amy Askren continues to provide updates while balancing privacy concerns with the widespread interest in her husband's condition. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining whether the former champion fighter can overcome this unexpected health crisis that has left him, as his wife described, "in limbo" between recovery and more serious intervention.
