With all the news that some of our most beloved baseball players were cheating their way to greatness and story after story of those who are heroes while scoring points being anything but when it comes to their life outside of sports, I wanted to tell you about a dear friend and a man I admire - a man whose efforts I have supported and hope that you will consider supporting as well.
I met Dikembe Mutombo when the Sixers got him from the Atlanta Hawks in 2001. His agent introduced us and told me of all of his amazing humanitarian work. We first met for dinner to discuss his plans for a hospital in his native Congo. As we sat in a neighborhood restaurant the dinner talk turned from his foundation to a discussion on virtually every major issue facing our world. Dikembe spoke with passion about the need to act as a brother to all of humanity. He spoke of how he had fallen in love with his wife at first glance, their daughter, the four children they had adopted, and the debt he felt for his many blessings and how he yearned to keep helping in any way he could.
It was almost impossible to get him to talk about himself. As a huge b-ball fan, who grew up for 10 years rooting for the best defensive team ever - the 80s' Detroit Pistons (I lived in Detroit for 10 years), trust me, I tried to have him recount the stories of some of his biggest blocking games, how the finger wag started, and what was going on in his mind when a man in the crowd of a game once taunted him by calling him a monkey.
I remember him looking at me with a sweet smile and saying "I am not a basketball player."
Before I had time to point out the obvious, he said I always wanted to be a doctor and "go back to my country and make sure not anyone died in the way my mother had to. I happen to play basketball because that is what God gave me to complete my duty here". I am not often at a loss for words, but my eyes filled with tears as I knew this big man (over 7 Ft. and to the north of 250) had a heart even bigger than his frame. I signed up on the spot to work for his dream of a hospital.
When Philly traded him to the Nets (I was not happy about that!) I spoke with him less, obviously, but he kept me updated on everything he was up to and I continued to admire him from afar. I recently bumped into him at an Eagles game and that same infectious passion that I saw 6 years ago had not dimmed a bit. I have seen many others take on big tasks. It's always less glamorous than one imagines - a year turns into more, and folks who said they would help don't. It can be demoralizing, but somehow I was not surprised that he was still plowing ahead.
When we met he had donated $3.5 million himself towards building a 300-bed hospital - still far away from the $29 million it would to cost to build what would be, and is, the first modern hospital in the Congo. Right on the outskirts of the Nation's capitol where he grew up, it serves a population that mostly live in deep poverty. Mutombo has now given $15 million of his own, and now his dream has been realized. Named after his mother, the hospital will improve access to health care for many in the Congo.
There is no doubt that we are suffering a major health care crisis in America and it is a disgrace that with all our wealth there are tons of people who remain uninsured, including children. But think about this for a moment: In the Congo, 20% of all children die before the age of 5. Life expectancy is 45. Things like Polio and Measles which we have not thought about in decades still claim the lives of many children.
Dikembe's hospital serves all, but has a special focus on children.
Dikembe is trying to raise $2.4 million dollars to treat curable diseases. It kills me to think of a child suffering who need not. Dikemebe also reminds me that healthy people are productive people who can work together to improve their lives and the life of their country. Whether it is only a small amount or something larger, please think of making a contribution and passing this along to other friends.
During this holiday season... do we really need more stuff? Is it not the best gift to give the gift of life? As some finished celebrating the miracle of Chanukah, and others the birth of Jesus, who spoke of helping the least among us - Citizen Hunters, let's create our own miracles, in our backyards and halfway around the globe. Please visit the Dikembe Mutumbo Foundation site for regular updates about their work and make a contribution when you can.
Comments (4)
wow:)
Posted by: karen on December 18, 2007 21:30
Flavia, is that you?
Whoever it is...nice piece on Dikembe. Do you not just love the guy?
Every coach--if any of them were as good and complete a person as Mutombo is (and few are)--ought to point every one of his/her athletes toward Dikembe and say, THIS is what you can do with your skills, if you're lucky enough, and with the fame and money you get because of them. And if you're not quite skilled enough, there are other things you can do too.
I just really shake my head every time I think of the intelligence and the heart of this guy.
Posted by: steve finley on December 22, 2007 22:25
He sounds like a good man and God bless him for what he has accomplished and thank you Flavia for making me aware of his dedication.
It is really nice to see what he has done with is good fortune from basketball.
Posted by: The Boss on December 24, 2007 03:20
I love hearing about pro-sports players doing good. I have a son who is very into sports and I would like some of the folks he looks up to-- to be like this guy.
Posted by: kevin on December 24, 2007 19:14