Ben Askren is finally headed home after spending nearly two months in the hospital battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia – that ultimately led to a double lung transplant.
The retired UFC fighter shared the news in a video update on social media:
Day 59, I’m out! With my beautiful wife supportive.
That was a long journey and it’s not over because I still can’t really walk.
I have to re-teach myself to do that among many other things.I guess I can make light of it because it was me and I don’t really remember it.
Doctors were ultimately able to find a donor match in time for the life-saving transplant, and Askren underwent the complex surgery.
His post-op recovery involved weeks of monitoring to ensure his body accepted the new lungs and didn’t develop further complications.
Askren was emotional as he reflected on the support he received from friends, family, and fans throughout the ordeal:
I’ve said this already in one of the videos but the support you guys gave me, whether it was setting up a GoFundMe, whether it was helping my kids and wife get through it, I had friends come from all over the country just to hang out for a couple of days. It meant so much.
It was so great to have all the support and all the love.
Though he still faces a long road to full recovery, Askren is optimistic and thankful to be alive:
Hopefully I’m not in this situation again for a really, really, really long time.
I plan on living a while.
Update #4- GOING HOME pic.twitter.com/O4Rx9Psyuu
— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) July 22, 2025
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