Dikembe Mutombo was recently given the Sager Strong Award for the humanitarian work he's done in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to building the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, named after his mother, Dikembe has provided free cervical and breast cancer screenings for women, and a team of doctors focused on addressing knee replacement and cataract surgery.
The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital led him to discovering an 8-year-old with a large tumor on the side of his face, who was being shunned by people. "I was touched by what he's going through as a young boy who's 8 years old. Not going to school. The way he's been pushed away by the society," Mutombo told TMZ. "His mom has to keep him in the bedroom every day because people are talking bad about him."
Being who he has always been, Mutombo wanted to help, so he flew the kid out to Los Angeles on Wednesday to meet with Beverly Hills-based Dr. Osborne, who will be tasked with removing the tumor before the boy returns to Congo to continue his school year.
TMZ caught up with Mutombo moments before saw the kid at LAX with a balloon and teddy bear in possession. Check out the video above to see them reunite for what should be the beginning of a new chapter in his young life.
