R.I.P The boy Dikembe Mutombo flew to the U.S dies

An eight-year-old boy whom NBA great Dikembe Mutombo flew to the United States from Congo has died.

Dikembe Mutombo’s Foundation announced on Saturday that Matadi Sela Petit died after he suffered a ‘rare and unpredictable genetic reaction to anaesthesia’ during surgery.

“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,” the foundation said in a release.

 Matadi was transferred to the ICU after he went into cardiac arrest during his surgery. But despite best efforts, medical staff – led by Dr. Ryan Osborne – he was never able to recover, according to TMZ.

"During the delicate surgery, Matadi suffered a rare and unpredictable genetic reaction to anesthesia," the foundation wrote in a statement posted on Mutombo's Instagram page. "Despite the diligent efforts of his medical caregivers, Matadi did not recover and he passed away last night."

 

 

 

 

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MATADI SELA PETIT The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is sad to share the news of the passing of Matadi Sela Petit. Matadi was an 8 year old little boy with a vibrant and appealing personality. He was born in Kinshasa, DRC with a cleft lip and a facial tumor that enlarged as he grew. Matadi was sponsored by the DMF and several partners to receive surgical treatment for his tumor by Dr. Ryan Osborne, founder and Director of Head and Neck Surgery at the Osborne Head and Neck Institute in Los Angeles, CA. Matadi and his father were welcomed with open arms by Dr. Osborne, his team and the Cedars Sinai Hospital family as well as the Ronald McDonald House where he won everyone’s heart with his open and friendly attitude. During the delicate surgery, Matadi suffered a rare and unpredictable genetic reaction to anesthesia. Despite the diligent efforts of his medical caregivers, Matadi did not recover and he passed away last night. 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. 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. We thank Dr. Ryan Osborne and his team, the Cedars-Sinai Hospital medical team, the Ronald McDonald House, the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, the American Embassy in Kinshasa and all those who in large and small ways embraced Matadi and his family. He was a pioneer, and his memory will inspire us to continue to develop efforts and partnerships to improve the lives of the children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A post shared by Dikembe Mutombo (@dofficialmutombo) on Dec 22, 2018 at 6:12am PST

Dr. Ryan Osborne volunteered his services, after being inspired by the good work of Mutumbo.

The NBA Hall of Famer was compelled to act after meeting the boy and his parents in September at a hospital he had built in his native Congo.

Mutombo’s foundation says Matadi  “was a pioneer, and his memory will inspire us to continue to develop efforts and partnerships to improve the lives of the children of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

Matadi Sela Petit arrived in Los Angeles with his father on December 12th to undergo surgery to remove the growth from his face.

Our thoughts go out to his family at this truly difficult time.