Former Olympic wrestler and MMA veteran Ben Askren is confronting life’s toughest questions while recovering from a double lung transplant that has fundamentally changed his daily existence. After months of hospitalization and a recent setback requiring a second admission, the 41-year-old athlete finds himself navigating conversations with his wife Amy that cut straight to the heart of his new reality.
During a routine post-surgery check-up on Monday, doctors discovered concerning signs around his chest tube that suggested infection. The medical team immediately placed him on antibiotics and ordered additional X-rays, marking another hurdle in what has already been an arduous recovery journey.
It was during this vulnerable moment that Amy began asking the questions that many in similar situations might avoid. As Askren shared in an Instagram video from his hospital bed, his wife has been pressing him about his emotional state: “My wife keeps asking me, ‘Man, are you, you know, are you sad because you have all these restrictions on your life? Are you, you know, are you depressed about it?'”
Askren’s response reveals the mindset that has carried him through this medical crisis. “Well, my other option was I die. So I’m grateful for the opportunity to live and be here still,” he explained to his followers.
The former wrestler has transformed his approach to adversity into a teaching moment, both for himself and others. Drawing from his coaching experience, he applies the same mental framework he uses with his wrestling students who face pre-competition anxiety. “A lot of them get scared around big competition, right? And then negative things are going to happen. But it’s like, well, you guys earned this. You should be grateful for the opportunity.”
This philosophy extends beyond the wrestling mat into his current medical situation. Askren frames his daily challenges through what he calls the “obstacle versus opportunity” lens, explaining how perspective can fundamentally alter one’s experience. “It’s like, ‘Oh, man, I got to go to practice today.’ Or, ‘Yes, I get to go to practice today and get better. This is my opportunity.'”
The Askren family continues to grapple with mounting financial pressures stemming from the medical crisis. After their insurance company initially denied coverage for the lung transplant, they turned to Help Hope Live for fundraising assistance.
The financial burden hasn’t disappeared with the completion of surgery, prompting Askren to make the difficult decision to auction his autographed Olympic singlet at a wrestling tournament at Kettle Moraine High School.
Despite his physical limitations, Askren’s influence on his wrestling community remains strong. Students and parents continue to express their support and admiration. Ava Shaikh, a wrestler at Kettle Moraine High School, captured the sentiment of many when she said, “He is everything. He is a coach. And not only that he loves the sport and he loves the kids as well. He treats you like family.”
The wrestler’s current hospitalization differs significantly from his previous stay, when he was unconscious and unaware of his surroundings. This time he remains alert and engaged, using his platform to share insights about gratitude and perspective during one of life’s most challenging chapters.
