Former NBA star Manute Bol dies from complications of SJS, kidney failure
June 21st, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Manute Bol, 47, has died. The 7-foot-7 former NBA star died Saturday at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for acute kidney failure and Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a serious skin disorder caused by an allergic reaction to medication.
Bol was hospitalized last month upon returning to the United States from his hometown of Sudan, where he was building a school through the group Sudan Sunrise. According to the NBA star’s Facebook page, Bol put off seeking medical attention while in Sudan because he wanted to continue his work there. When his condition continued to deteriorate, Bol caught a flight to Dulles. While awaiting a connecting flight to his home in Kansas, Bol was hospitalized. Bol’s Facebook page has yet to be updated with the disappointing news of his death, but fans have already begun posting condolence messages.
Bol developed SJS after taking kidney medication while in Sudan. While rare, SJS has been associated with more than2,000 over-the-counter and prescription medications. SJS starts with a rash that blisters over causing the skin to peel off in sheets and exposing the body to life threatening infections. Blisters can also form on the eyes and internal organs, leading to blindness or ocular problems and a host of other complications.
“Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us,” Tom Prichard, executive director of the group Sudan Sunrise, told the Associated Press. “Manute, we’ll miss you. Our prayers and best wishes go out to all his family, and all who mourn his loss.”