LOS ANGELES — An organization founded by a famed former Atlanta Hawks player shared tragic news on Saturday about a young boy whom they strived to help.
On his official Facebook page, Dikembe Mutombo said that an 8-year-old boy brought to the U.S. for life-changing surgery died of an unexpected complication.
Mutombo said on his page that Matadi Sela Petit of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo was undergoing a delicate surgery in Los Angeles to treat a large facial tumor when he "suffered a rare and unpredictable genetic reaction to anesthesia." Caregivers were unable to awaken the young boy and he died Friday night.
On his page, Mutombo said the child had a vibrant and appealing personality and that he won over everyone with his open and friendly attitude at both Cedars Sinai Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
"We are devastated by the loss of Matadi and our heart goes out to his father, his mother and the rest of his family, and all his old and new friends," Mutombo's page said. "We are comforted by the knowledge that a whole 'village' adopted Matadi and joined forces to offer him treatment that was not available in the DRC and which would have given him the opportunity to have a new and different life."
In closing, Mutombo's letter said that the child was "a pioneer" and that his memory will inspire them to continue to work to improve lives of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mutombo, who is best known in Atlanta for his years with the Atlanta Hawks, was also known for his philanthropic works in recent years and has been noted as one of the most-charitable players to have ever played the game according to Britannica.com.
His namesake foundation works to better health care and disease prevention through various avenues in the Congo where he was born.
