Ben Askren details his harrowing journey from a misdiagnosed back spasm to a life-saving double lung transplant following a severe staph infection that caused necrotizing pneumonia. Despite being unconscious for 37 days and losing significant muscle mass, Askren leveraged his background as a disciplined, elite athlete to navigate a grueling recovery process. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a "green and growing" mindset, rejecting the concept of innate talent in favor of relentless, regimented work. Reflecting on his near-death experience, he adopts a philosophy of living fully in the "extra" time he has been granted, prioritizing meaningful work in wrestling coaching and family life over superficial pursuits. His story serves as a testament to the power of resilience, self-reliance, and the refusal to let external circumstances dictate one's sense of purpose or identity.
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