Melville Boy Takes Swings with Former Met, Smithtown Native

Matthew Levine is a typical 8-year-old boy. He has a big smile, laughs a lot and loves baseball. While this little boy from Melville is practicing hard on his swing, his body is working a double header just to stay alive. 

Matthew suffers from a disease known as FSGS, which prevents his kidneys from properly filtering proteins and toxins. The disease could cause his kidneys to fail at any moment. Matthew must take 15 pills a day. FSGS has also left him anemic, Vitamin D deficient and he has cholesterol and blood pressure levels that would alarm any physician.

“His kidneys are like a ticking time bomb. They can fail any minute of any day, his father Michael Levine said. “It’s like walking in the dark on glass every day. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Matthew is not alone in his battle though. FSGS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children and more than 8,000 people are diagnosed with FSGS and the related Nephrotic Syndrome each year. The disease has no specific target and affects all races, ages and genders.

While daily life is a struggle for the Levine family, the acts of complete strangers have brightened the hope for Matthew to live a normal life.

On Wednesday, former major league baseball player and Smithtown resident, Frank Catalanotto, donated a batting lesson to the 8-year-old Little League player at Prospect Sports in Farmingdale.

“It was a dream come true for Matt,” his father said.

Catalanotto learned about the Levine family’s difficulties through a mutual friend. “Out of no where, Frank decided he wanted to help bring a smile to Matthew’s face. Mission accomplished,” Michael said.

Catalanotto commended Matthew on his swing and hand-eye coordination. “His confidence his through the roof now,” Michael said of his son’s experience.

The former Mets player isn’t the only celebrity making a difference in Matthew’s life. Bravo TV star, Teresa Giudice, who stared on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” has taken up the The NephCure Foundation, as her charity of choice as she competes NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” She even featured Matthew in a commercial for the foundation.

The recent attention is much due to Michael’s work to bring awareness to his son’s disease. Michael joined the board of The NephCure Foundation six years ago. “I decided six years ago that I didn’t want any other parent to go through the same living hell as me and my wife,” he said.

“We’re trying to make miracles happen for Matthew and other children,” he added.