Dikembe Mutombo Foundation Announces Matadi Sela Petit, 8, Died During Surgery

The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation announced Saturday that Matadi Sela Petit, an eight-year-old boy from Congo flown to the United States to have a tumor removed from his face, died during surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"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."

Mutombo, an eight-time NBA All-Star selection, met Petit at Los Angeles International Airport when he arrived to the U.S. in mid-December and said he was compelled to act after meeting the boy and his parents in September at a hospital he had built in his native Congo, per TMZ Sports.

"I was touched by what he's going through as a young boy who's eight years old. Not going to school. The way he's been pushed away by the society," he said. "His mom has to keep him in the bedroom every day because people are talking bad about him."

The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation statement said the child possessed a "vibrant and appealing personality":

"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."

The statement concluded by calling Petit a "pioneer" and noted "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."