Child That Dikembe Mutombo Flew To The States For Face Tumor Removal Surgery Dies From A Bad Reaction

Matadi Sela Petit from The Democratic Republic of Congo has died due to complications from surgery. 

The 8-year-old was flown into the U.S. by former NBA Player, Dikembe Mutombo, to have a massive tumor removed from his face. 

During the surgical procedure at Cedars Sinai Hospital in L.A., Matadi went into cardiac arrest after suffering a “rare and unpredictable genetic reaction to anesthesia” and was transferred to the ICU. 

According to Dikembe Mutombo, Matadi did not make it and passed away Friday night. The former NBA player posted to his Instagram, “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 are sending our love and prayers to his family during this time.