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Ben Askren, a former UFC fighter, shared his journey of turning to faith after waking up from a medically induced coma and undergoing a double lung transplant due to severe pneumonia.
In an interview with FloWrestling, Askren, a former Olympic wrestler, recounted the moment he woke up from the coma and made the decision to become a Christian.
UFC fighter Ben Askren waits for the start of a middleweight mixed martial arts bout between David Branch and Jared Cannonier at UFC 230 in New York on Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
“There were multiple occasions where they thought I was dead. I woke up and decided to embrace Christianity. It was a profound moment,” Askren shared in the interview.
Askren mentioned that while he had been attending church with his wife for years, he had never felt the call to faith until that moment.
“I used to accompany my wife to church for 15 years out of support, despite not identifying as a Christian. However, after waking up, I felt compelled to take that step,” he continued.
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who supported me during this challenging time. The outpouring of love and assistance has been overwhelming,” Askren expressed.
Ben Askren stands in his corner prior to his welterweight bout against Demian Maia of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct. 26, 2019 in Singapore. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
After experiencing what he initially thought was back pain in May, Askren found himself on a ventilator in June and later on the donor list for a lung transplant. The successful surgery marked a new chapter in his recovery journey, which he has been sharing with his followers on social media. His latest update showcased his progress, as he took a walk around the hospital floor.
BEN ASKREN RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER GRUELING DOUBLE-LUNG TRANSPLANT RECOVERY
Ben Askren attends a news conference for Triller Fight Club’s inaugural 2021 boxing event at The Venetian Las Vegas on March 26, 2021 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Askren, a former NCAA champion and Olympic wrestler, transitioned to MMA fighting before facing Jake Paul in a boxing match in 2021, where he was defeated in the first round.
Contributions to this report were made by Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital.
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