There are few things in life that can truly break a person, and losing a child is one of those things. MMA legend turned boxing contender Francis Ngannou, seen by many as one of the “baddest men alive”, had to brace himself for this heartbreaking experience in April when he announced the death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe.
After going dark for three months, Ngannou appeared on UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s podcast, marking his first public appearance since the announcement.
“He has some malformation on his brain, which is something that we didn’t know,” Ngannou told Rogan. “He passed out twice. The first time was in Cameroon, we took him to the hospital. They didn’t find anything.
“The second time was in [Saudi Arabia], we took him to the hospital. They ran a lot of exams, they didn’t do anything,” he continued. “They did the EEG, they didn’t do the [CAT] scan or MRI, because according to them, their conclusion was that he had a swollen lung. That is what was pressing his chest and stopping him from breathing and it created that thing.”
“After all those exams, they gave him some medicine, that he’s going to be OK. Nothing to worry about. Because at first, they even thought about asthma. They gave, like, a ventilator, and then afterward, after some research they took it out. It [made me] confident.”
Ngannou’s Heartbreaking Story
Ngannou trusted the doctors’ diagnosis that his son would recover from his health issues and left his home in Cameroon to train in Dubai. Upon arriving in Dubai, he was feeling positive and even considered going out, despite not typically going to clubs. While at the gym, he attempted to call his son but couldn’t reach him or his son’s mother. Later, during his workout, Ngannou received a call from his younger brother, which caused concern.
“He said, ‘Bro, things are not going well here.’ I’m like, ‘What is it?’ [He said,] ‘Kobe, he passed out, he’s not breathing, we are at the hospital, they kicked me out from the room.’ I’m like, ‘What’s happening?’ As we are talking, he’s also trying to get information, so I lost him for like three or four minutes.”
Ngannou called his brother back and spoke with a nurse who verified his relationship to his son receiving emergency care. The nurse then informed his brother that his son had passed away. Ngannou was shocked and in disbelief.
“[She said,] ‘Well, he’s gone.’ Just like that. He’s gone,” Ngannou said. “What do you mean he’s gone? How come he’s gone? This kid was 15 months [old], he was bigger than 15 months. He was growing. He was the most joyful, happy kid around. What do you mean he’s gone? Gone where? That was it.
“I thought I was dreaming. I thought they were going to say that’s not true.” Ngannou continued, “I kept calling again and everybody confirmed it, I called my mom, my mom is in tears.”
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Dealing With The Loss
The news of his son’s death hit Ngannou hard, leaving him struggling to comprehend the loss. Despite providing his family with a comfortable life and the best medical care, he felt completely powerless, reminiscent of the helplessness he felt when his father died when he was 15.
His son Kobe, named after Kobe Bryant, was laid to rest, but the grief persisted, with Ngannou finding it difficult to accept that his 15-month-old child was truly gone, despite the support he received.
“You get back in the apartment and see all his toys, the stuff that he was playing [with], the things that you took from him the other day and put here, it’s right there but he’s not there anymore and will never be there anymore,” Ngannou said. “If they ask you what do you want or what can comfort you, you don’t know. It’s nothing. It’s really about facing it daily, take it one at a time.
“At least whenever I die, I’m going to go see my kid,” said Ngannou. “I’m going to see him. I’m not afraid of [death]. I still want to live, but when you get to that point, to think like that. So for some way, you’re looking forward for whenever that happens.”
Ngannou is currently preparing to get back into MMA this year where he is set to make his debut in the PFL.
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