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Ben Askren's Life-Saving Lung Transplant: A Transformative Journey

1/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ben Askren, the former UFC star, underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after a severe battle with pneumonia.
He was hospitalized for 59 days and lost significant weight during treatment.
He described the ordeal as transformative, saying, "I kind of died once... left Earth for 40 days."
He remains optimistic about recovery and plans for the future, noting life will look different, especially for family activities.

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Story summary

Ben Askren, the former UFC star, underwent a life-saving double lung transplant after a severe battle with pneumonia.
He was hospitalized for 59 days and lost significant weight during treatment.
He described the ordeal as transformative, saying, "I kind of died once... left Earth for 40 days."
He remains optimistic about recovery and plans for the future, noting life will look different, especially for family activities.