Ben Askren?

[VakAttack]

2 minutes ago, GrandOlm said:

I'm surprised by them asking for donations. The Askrens are a wealthy family. Ben has been involved with bitcoin, he's the partial owner AWA and I believe has 3 gyms that he directly owns, plus all the money he has made in the entertainment industry (mma, boxing).

I'm not. It's the for-profit healthcare system.  Ben is doing well for himself, but he's not Jeff Bezos.  You need to be a higher class of wealthy to absorb something like this. 

[Rassling2]

9 hours ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/06/21/dana-white-offers-support-to-ben-askren-with-the-former-fighter-in-need-of-life-saving-lung-transplant/

FFS, Dana White's personal net worth is $500M.
Just pay for it instead of this drawn out sh!t public beg-a-thon.

I’m confident anyone from Ben’s close friends and family who sees this disgusting post realizes this is not a reflection of this forum - you bitter bastard pos. 

[1032004]

1 hour ago, GrandOlm said:

I'm surprised by them asking for donations. The Askrens are a wealthy family. Ben has been involved with bitcoin, he's the partial owner AWA and I believe has 3 gyms that he directly owns, plus all the money he has made in the entertainment industry (mma, boxing).

Here is Amy’s post from yesterday.  I don’t really take it as “asking.”  Seems like a lot of people have told her they want to help so she’s just giving them a way to do it.

“I've had a lot of people ask how they can support Ben right now-Praying means so much to us, and I'm thankful for receiving just that.  but our friends have set up a couple other ways. Rudis has created a t shirt with profits going toward Ben's medical bills/transplant fund, and a local AWA dad made a shirt that will go to supporting high level athletes training at AWA (a cause Ben was going to devote time to fundraising for soon).”

[Johnyt9]

They may not be very liquid. And if money is tied up in Bitcoin she may not have access to sell if needed

[BarSeries]

3 hours ago, Johnyt9 said:

They may not be very liquid. And if money is tied up in Bitcoin she may not have access to sell if needed

How is Bitcoin not liquid?

[scribers]

Call me crazy but I don’t think Ben would hate it we are arguing over his perilous condition 

[PortaJohn]

2 hours ago, scribers said:

Call me crazy but I don’t think Ben would hate it we are arguing over his perilous condition 

Fair point.  If anything Ben would love the idea of one of us starting BenCoin in his honor if he does pass

[Seanyd]

I'm only looking for positive updates from people in the know. 

[Wrestleknownothing]

2 hours ago, BarSeries said:

How is Bitcoin not liquid?

If you do not have the private key or wallet access.

[scourge165]

On 6/21/2025 at 4:12 PM, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

Average cardiac transplant is ~$2.1M billed cost.
If you're in ICU for a long time, that goes way, way up.

Lungs are harder and take longer to get.

Yes, but I'd be shocked if he didn't have insurance. That should cover everything up until ~15K...with the exception(possibly of the transportation from LV to Wisconsin).

It's entirely possible however that it wasn't deemed "medically necessary" to move him from LV to Wisconsin. That would likely have been extremely expensive. 

 

Maybe it's so...Amy can be there and not have to work(I don't know if she is a Stay at home mother) or maybe she has to pay for childcare or maybe...a hundred other things. 

Maybe it's just something someone set up because they felt like that's the only thing they could do. 

I mean, IIRC, when Ben's Wife Amy last posted an update, she said someone had set up a fundraiser for the RTC, something Ben wanted to do and I don't recall her mentioning her own fundraiser. 

 

Something like this costs money even if the actual hospital bills don't cost money. You're entire life is put on hold and from what everyone has said publicly, his wife has pretty much been camping out in his room. 

 

Whatever it's used for, I'm fine with it. 

[Hammerlock3]

are morons still tip toeing towards the ridiculous idea that you shouldn't give the askren's money because they've already got more than them or dana white should pay for it something?

[scourge165]

On 6/21/2025 at 5:42 PM, 1032004 said:

Here is Amy’s post from yesterday.  I don’t really take it as “asking.”  Seems like a lot of people have told her they want to help so she’s just giving them a way to do it.

“I've had a lot of people ask how they can support Ben right now-Praying means so much to us, and I'm thankful for receiving just that.  but our friends have set up a couple other ways. Rudis has created a t shirt with profits going toward Ben's medical bills/transplant fund, and a local AWA dad made a shirt that will go to supporting high level athletes training at AWA (a cause Ben was going to devote time to fundraising for soon).”

That's exactly how I read it. 

 

I think it's more important for the person donating sometimes. You're not there, you can't do anything and...this at least makes it feel like you're helping in SOME way. 

But it definitely doesn't read as 'we need money for the bills.'

 

*I also assume Ben would share with his wife how to access his cryptocurrency. I doubt he still has it in a password protected wallet, but...even if he does, he's a 40 year old father with 3 kids, I'm guessing it's with his other financial documents. 

[scourge165]

34 minutes ago, Hammerlock3 said:

are morons still tip toeing towards the ridiculous idea that you shouldn't give the askren's money because they've already got more than them or dana white should pay for it something?

I don't think so...

I think someone just posed the question. 

 

[BobDole]

On 6/19/2025 at 11:40 PM, BruceyB said:

I don't this doesn't come out as off-putting, but IMO we should just keep this thread to actual updates on Ben's health while avoiding playing doctor by trying to explain why, how, or what is going to come of Ben's current situation. I know that we are all on the same team, but we should stick to what we know based on the information that has been made public. 

I know that's not typically the spirit of a forum, but in this critical time, I don't think any of us want to give "opinion" on what may or may not be transpiring. This is an absolutely horrible situation, and I think we would all be best giving it space. Please continue to share updates, but let's not bring opinions or speculation into the picture anymore than necessary.

In response to this and other common comments.

First off, updates are appreciated, please make sure they are vetted and aren't from the guy on the X with 4 followers.

It is common to be curious how this happened. Ben was seemingly a healthy 40 year old high level athlete. This is scary for any of those in that range that may or may not live as healthy of a life as he does. Tragedies such as this could raise awareness about conditions that could affect many of us. Speculation is common and hopefully we will find out more with the hopes of helping someone that could be in a similar situation.

Helpful dialogue translating medical talk is good and helps to educate that dispel half-truths and rumors about Ben's condition.  

[red viking]

57 minutes ago, BobDole said:

In response to this and other common comments.

First off, updates are appreciated, please make sure they are vetted and aren't from the guy on the X with 4 followers.

It is common to be curious how this happened. Ben was seemingly a healthy 40 year old high level athlete. This is scary for any of those in that range that may or may not live as healthy of a life as he does. Tragedies such as this could raise awareness about conditions that could affect many of us. Speculation is common and hopefully we will find out more with the hopes of helping someone that could be in a similar situation.

Helpful dialogue translating medical talk is good and helps to educate that dispel half-truths and rumors about Ben's condition.  

I know he wrestles w the kids at AWA practices. That will put anybody at risk. The healthiest people can get severe staph. His age and cardio have little to do w this. 

[BarSeries]

 

[1032004]

Hopefully that’s actually true (there has been nothing since the last post I shared from Amy).  Minnow pretending to be close with the Askren family is kinda gross though 

Edited 22 hours ago by 1032004

[Truzzcat]

3 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Hopefully that’s actually true (there has been nothing since the last post I shared from Amy).  Minnow pretending to be close with the Askren family is kinda gross though 

His infatuation with breaking news before Ben's wife does is rather insane.

[BarSeries]

[fishbane]

 

[GV4444]

Someone post the link to donate to his medical fund and maybe pin it.  I bought my tee shirt.

[scourge165]

47 minutes ago, GV4444 said:

Someone post the link to donate to his medical fund and maybe pin it.  I bought my tee shirt.

https://helphopelive.org/campaign/25865/

[scourge165]

1 hour ago, fishbane said:

 

I just don't get why the Insurance would not pay for the transplant.

There are a whole set of reasons they won't and the only possible one would be "experimental," or some type of non-authorized procedure.

All the rest...that I know of, medically neccessary, his ability to care for himself, be able to get care to support himself financially...comorbidities, none of those would be applicable. 

 

But whatever...Dana White is donating 300-400K from what I've read and the Wrestling community is... pretty good about taking care of their own, so whatever BS reason insurance won't cover it, I'm thinking they can make up the rest.

 

All the rest of the information is great and...the most important though. 

Edited 15 hours ago by scourge165

[GV4444]

I gave.   Who's going to match me?

[1032004]

$14 to ship a t shirt in 8 weeks, you’re killing me Rudis