Ben Askren believes his wife’s persistence is what ultimately saved his life earlier this year.
The former UFC fighter spent 45 days in a coma before undergoing a double lung transplant after being struck down by necrotizing pneumonia.
Ben Askren lost more than 50lbs during his brush with death, but he lived to tell the remarkable tale.
During a recent interview, the 41-year-old MMA icon got emotional as he discussed the pivotal role his wife, Amy, played in preventing his premature death.
Ben Askren credits wife with saving his life
On Wednesday, Real American Freestyle Wrestling released a YouTube video on Ben Askren’s near-death experience.
‘Funky’ detailed the events that led up to his going to the hospital, which he didn’t want to do.
Amy Askren’s insistence that he get checked out by doctors was probably what saved his life.
“In May, I had wrestled on Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” Askren said.
I came home. I felt totally fine. Then a couple of hours later, my back started hurting really bad. And I’m like, ‘Damn!’ That night, I was awake like every 45 minutes.
“I don’t wanna get emotional, but if it wasn’t for my wife, I probably would’ve died. She videotapes me sleeping. I look like s—, I’m breathing super-hard and fast.
“So, she wakes me up, she’s like, ‘You’ve gotta go to the hospital’. I’m like, ‘I’m not f—ing going to the hospital’. We argue for 30 minutes. My wife convinces me to go to the hospital.
“I remember getting in the Uber from the building, and that’s it. I remember nothing.”
Askren added: “My wife was amazing. You know, she visited almost every day for 70 days. It’s like, she’s gotta take care of our kids too. I get emotional still. There’s a decent chance I could’ve died.”
Ben Askren’s second hospital stint
Ben Askren was readmitted to the hospital when an infection was spotted during his first checkup.
The former two-promotional MMA champion documented his recovery process, which included learning how to walk again after being confined to a bed or wheelchair for several months.
On August 12, Askren announced he had ‘escaped again’ after being discharged for the second time.
Askren is now looking forward to enjoying ‘a really good life’ as his recovery journey continues.
He concluded: “I probably won’t be actively competitive in anything ever again from a physical standpoint. But I’ll be able to have a really good life.”