Over $70,000 (USD) has been raised for the Mataele family in East Palo Alto, California after their 14-year-old son Aisea Mataele underwent emergency surgery for a mystery illness and tragically passed away on Tuesday December 20, five days before Christmas.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by his family, Aisea collapsed in his home on December 12 and was rushed to a local hospital where he spent a week recieving treatment. Doctors initally thought that he was suffering from meningitis but later ruled it out as a cause. 

On December 20, Aisea underwent emergency brain surgery but after the operation was unresponsive and not breathing on his own. After conducting tests, machines supporting his breathing were turned off.

Aisea's relative Nona Pahulu Ybarra setup a GoFundMe page on the last day of Aisea's life, to help with his medical costs. The page raised $55,000 within 24 hours. Over 600 people contributed.

The page stated "Earlier this month of December, Aisea became sick with what he thought was just a cold. Aisea became really sick in 3 days and was rushed to the emergency room where he was first diagnosed with meningitis",

"Fluid had collected in his spine and in his brain. The fluid in his brain was causing his brain to swell and Aisea had lost his vision. Aisea was rushed to an emergency surgery to drain the fluid in his brain."

The cause of death is still unknown but Nona Ybarra told Media that a bacterial cause was suspected.