Lisa Pontius, a content creator with more than 664,000 TikTok followers, lost her husband Matthew on August 19 after a rapid battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. In a video shared a week later, Lisa revealed how she tried to preserve something tangible for their three children before his passing.
According to People, the short clip, shared on TikTok, shows Matthew in a hospital bed, oxygen tubes visible, with his hand resting in a bucket to make a mold. Overlaying text reads: “Me taking a hand cast of my husband so the kids can always hold daddy’s hand after he passes.”
Also read: TikTok introduces voice notes: Here’s what’s new in the app’s messaging upgrade
The footage struck a chord as it has since been viewed more than 5.2 million times and collected over 198,000 likes.
Pontius says preserving memories for her children
Speaking to People, Lisa explained, “This project was a last-ditch effort to preserve a piece of him for my kids and for me to hold on to. Matt was my true soul mate and the best father in the world.”
According to a GoFundMe set up for the family, Matthew was officially diagnosed in mid-August, though his symptoms had only surfaced in June. In her TikTok posts, Lisa said she was “desperately trying to preserve memories for my kids” as the disease progressed quickly. Mayo Clinic reports that the rare brain condition typically takes a patient’s life within a year of diagnosis.
{{/usCountry}}According to a GoFundMe set up for the family, Matthew was officially diagnosed in mid-August, though his symptoms had only surfaced in June. In her TikTok posts, Lisa said she was “desperately trying to preserve memories for my kids” as the disease progressed quickly. Mayo Clinic reports that the rare brain condition typically takes a patient’s life within a year of diagnosis.
{{/usCountry}}Also read: Who is Morgan Riddle? Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend slays ‘wild’ TikTok challenge at US Open
Pointus penned emotional farewell to her husband
When she confirmed Matthew’s passing, Lisa wrote, “My heart is broken because half of it has belonged to this man since we have met. He was every bit of magic I had hoped for in my lifetime. The love we shared was simple, and easy, and full of so much hope for the future.”
She added that he died peacefully by her side. “Matthew passed away while we snuggled in his hospice bed, while I recounted stories of our adventures together and told him just how profoundly grateful I was to have been loved by him and how loved he was by all of us,” she wrote in the caption of her video.
FAQs
Who was Matthew Pontius?
Matthew was the husband of TikTok creator Lisa Pontius; he died at 43 after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
How many children do Lisa and Matthew share?
The couple has three kids together.
What did Lisa create before his passing?
She made a cast of Matthew’s hand so the children could always hold it.
When was Matthew diagnosed with CJD?
According to a GoFundMe page, he was diagnosed in mid-August 2025, with symptoms first appearing in June.