Supporting Levi and the DeMatteis Family

There are moments in life when a family needs to come together and carry one another through something no family should ever have to face.

This is one of those moments.

Levi DeMatteis is 16 years old. He is a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, and a friend. He is deeply loved by his family and by so many people whose lives he has touched.

This GoFundMe was created by Jeff and Rena’s family to support them during this unimaginable time.

On Father’s Day, 2026, Levi was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in his brain. Shortly after his diagnosis, he suffered a stroke and spent time in stroke rehabilitation while continuing to battle cancer. Since then, he has faced setback after setback.

In less than three months, Levi has gone from beginning his fight against cancer to transitioning to comfort care.

Who Levi Is

Levi should be entering his junior year at Rome Free Academy and has been an active member of Encounter Youth Group at Redeemer Church.

Those who know Levi describe him as someone with the best smile and a gentle spirit. Levi was someone who noticed those who needed connection, took friends under his wing, and made others feel like they belonged.

When he was healthy, Levi enjoyed playing soccer, tennis, pickleball, golf, skiing, biking with friends, and playing video games with his brothers. He was a proud Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan. But perhaps what people will remember most about Levi is his laidback personality, making people laugh, and being silly. If you spent time with Levi, you almost always left with a smile on your face.

That was Levi. He had a way of making people feel good simply by being around him.

The Last Three Months

Since his diagnosis, Levi has spent more than 60 days in the hospital receiving around-the-clock care.

Throughout those weeks, Rena, Jeff, Asher, and Simeon have remained by his side. Levi has never spent a moment alone in the hospital. They have rearranged their lives around Levi.

Now, as Jeff and Rena face the devastating transition to comfort care, they are taking things one day at a time.

How We Can Help

No family should have to think about finances while sitting beside their child during a time like this. But the financial impact of nearly three months of hospitalization, time away from work, travel, meals, and the many unexpected expenses that come with caring for a critically ill child has been significant. There are already medical bills and other expenses, and there will be ongoing costs in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Our hope is to ease some of that burden so Jeff and Rena can focus solely on Levi and on being together as a family.

The family surrounding them wants to carry some of the weight for them now.

If you are able to make a donation, every gift, regardless of size, will help tremendously. If you are not able to give, sharing this fundraiser is another meaningful way to support the DeMatteis family and help us reach more people.

More than anything, please keep Jeff, Rena, Asher, Simeon, and especially Levi in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

We are grateful for every prayer, every message, every act of kindness, and every person who helps remind this family that they are not walking through this alone.

Thank you for loving Levi and his family, for standing beside them, and for helping carry them through these days.