Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
The final chapter of Levi Mikhail Mohammed’s life ended in quiet courage yesterday, as the 14-year-old died after a long and painful battle with an aggressive form of leukaemia.
It was a fight he waged for six years with a resilience that inspired all who knew his story.
His mother, Marissa Sarah Ali, shared the heartbreaking news in a deeply personal tribute on Facebook, framing his passing through the “law of conservation of energy”—a reflection of her belief that while Levi is gone, his spirit endures.
“I’m so proud of you honey! You did it! On your terms, you absolute rockstar!” she wrote.
Levi’s journey was one marked by unimaginable hardship. Diagnosed at just eight years old, he endured multiple relapses, relentless treatments and even brain surgeries as doctors fought to save his life. But in March, after his cancer returned for a third time—more aggressive and widespread than before—Levi made a decision that would define his legacy.
His mother said he chose peace.
“Cancer has taken enough from him. It will take no more,” his mother said at the time, explaining that further treatment would only prolong his suffering without offering a cure.
In that moment, she said, there was no fear—only clarity.
“This time, Levi led the way. His body and mind are in alignment. He’s earned it … in blood, in tears, in the very marrow of his bones.”
As his condition worsened in recent days, doctors told the family his time was drawing near. What followed were moments of quiet reflection, painful acceptance, and a mother’s impossible balancing act—hoping for more time, while wishing for her son’s suffering to end.
“I hope it’s hours for his sake… I hope it’s days for mine,” she wrote just one day before his passing.
Tributes have since poured in from across the country, with many recalling Levi’s radiant spirit—his humour, curiosity and unmistakable light.
“Levi will always be one of my heroes,” wrote Gabriel Hampton, who met him during RBC’s Race for Kids. “His determination … showed he was loved and supported beyond measure.”
Even in his final days, Levi remained, in his mother’s words, “luminous”—a child full of life, courage and grace.
“My heart is broken. We are devastated,” his mother wrote. “But if Levi can do it, we have to find a way to do it too. For him. Always and always for him.”
In the end, she said Levi did not lose his battle; he chose how it would end.
