Funeral Held for Manute Bol, a Victim of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Washington, DCFormer NBA star and humanitarian Manute Bol recently died from complications of Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS). Bol's funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral in the District of Columbia, according to the Washington Post.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">The seven-foot-seven center was famous for blocking shots on the court, but his greatest impact came through his work in his native Sudan. Bol helped found Sudan Sunrise, a group dedicated to encouraging solidarity in the country.

Earlier this year Bol was hospitalized for kidney failure and SJS after returning from a trip to Sudan. The latter condition arose from a medication he took while in Africa.

Stevens Johnson syndrome is a rare and serious allergic reaction to a drug or procedure. The disorder causes the skin to blister and eventually shed from the body. There is no real treatment, other than taking patients off their medications and placing them in burn units.

"Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us," wrote Tom Prichard, executive director of Sudan Sunrise, in an e-mail obtained by the Associated Press.