GoFundMe For Former New Haven PD Officer With Incurable Brain Cancer

NEW HAVEN, CT —A former New Haven police officer, Matt Silvestrini, who's "battling an aggressive form of brain cancer," and his family, need help.

Silvestrini, who worked for both the New Haven and Middletown police departments, is a married father of two, and an Army veteran who did two tours in Iraq.

He was first diagnosed in 2016 when he was 32. After surgeries, chemo and radiation, he lived cancer free for around five years. But now, the cancer has resurfaced in a particularly cruel and aggressive way. There is no cure. "The focus in this battle has shifted and the time remaining will be spent ensuring Matt’s comfort at home with his wife and 2 children by his side," reads a GoFundMe for the Silvestrini family.

In two days, through hundreds of donations, the GoFundMe has raised, as of the time of this post, nearly $60,000 of a $75,000 goal.

Read more from the GoFundMe here:

"The Silvestrini family has been the object of our love and prayers throughout the years because, as many of you know, Matt has been battling an aggressive form of brain cancer. Matt Silvestrini is a father to 2 beautiful children, a husband, an Army Veteran (2 tours in Iraq), and a Police Officer serving the New Haven and Middletown communities. He was initially diagnosed in 2016, at the age of 32, with anaplastic astrocytoma, Matt underwent brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and went on living a robust cancer-free life for 5 years. However, in early November of 2021, Matt and Ashley received a call from Matt’s oncologist that his most recent MRI was positive for tumor growth. In January of this year, Matt had his second surgery, which revealed disease progression to grade 4 astrocytoma, also known as Glioblastoma. This most aggressive form of brain cancer brings with it limited treatment options to prolong life and ultimately, no cure. Following Matt’s latest tumor resection surgery in mid-August, Matt and Ashley have been at home, healing and unable to work as their days are filled with medical appointments, scans and trips to Boston’s Dana Farber for experimental trial drugs.

Despite all of the fight this family has been fighting, within just the past week, Matt’s neurological function has deteriorated and his latest brain scan revealed the devastating news of significant tumor progression.

The focus in this battle has shifted and the time remaining will be spent ensuring Matt’s comfort at home with his wife and 2 children by his side.

The path Matt, Ashley, Abby and Walker find themselves on is one no family should have to take and we ask for your continued love, support, thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time. Please consider donating, any amount is very appreciated. All funds collected will be used to pay for the costs associated with Matt's palliative care and the family's health insurance to support Abby's lifelong medical needs and healthcare as a Type I Diabetic. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love and support."

Donate to the GoFundMe here.