EON

Miami – A high school cheerleader from Florida has died of complications from a breast augmentation, according to media reports Tuesday.

No cause of death has been determined for 18-year-old Stephanie Kuleba who was set to enter the pre-med program at the University of Florida this fall, but her family attorney says that doctors believe Kuleba died of a rare and potentially deadly genetic reaction to general anesthesia known as malignant hyperthermia, which sends the body into shock.

“The surgery itself was very personal,” said Benny Perlman, a friend of Kuleba’s who spoke on behalf of her grieving family Monday night. “She passed away from complications during surgery.

“She was a wonderful person and she changed all our lives.”

The problems started on Friday at the Boca Raton outpatient surgery unit where Stephanie had just completed reconstructive breast surgery. Paramedics were called for assistance, and they rushed her toDelray Medical Center where she died on Saturday.

Her family wants to know why doctors didn’t do more in advance if it was malignant hyperthermia that killed Kuleba.

“She was a role model for a lot of people,” said friend and classmate Vicky Goldring, 16. “She was incredibly smart. She wanted to help people. She was just a happy 18-year-old girl.”

It is estimated that nearly 247,000 women got implants for augmentation last year in the United States, compared with 32,000 in 1992.