Local boy loses fight with rare disease

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - A little boy with a big heart lost his fight against a rare auto-immune disease.

Cameron Hartman, 10, of Centerville, died Sunday.

He suffered from a rare immune deficiency syndrome known as Dock 8 that affects only 50 people worldwide.  Cameron was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.  The Centerville High student body has been helping raise funds from Cameron's medical bills since last year. 

You might remember Cameron from a story on 2 NEWS back in September 2012 when the money raised from a spirit chain competition between Centerville and Kettering Fairmont went to Cameron's family.  Centerville raised $60,000.

"We hit such a great number for such a deserving family in Centerville," said Andrew Holmes, who is the student body Vice President at Centerville High School.

Holmes said during that time he had the opportunity and pleasure of becoming friends with Cameron. 

"Cameron came off a little shy at first, but I'll never forget one time when he just turned to us and said,  "Thank you guys for everything you do."

Holmes talked about Cameron's love for sports and even admitted the 10-year-old beat him in a game of horse. 

"He was always optimistic and cheerful and just wonderful to be around." said Holmes.

Cameron was a 5th grader at Stingley Elementary School in Centerville, but had been receiving treatment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital for the past several months.

The love and support continues now that Cameron has passed.  On Twitter there are an outpour of messages from members of the community, all giving their condolences.

Holmes had his own message for the Hartman family:

"Cameron and his family touched more lives than he could have ever known and my prayers are with the family.  The whole community is behind them," said Holmes.

Visitation for Cameron is set for Friday, January 11 at the Washington Heights Baptist Church on Far Hills Avenue in Washington Township.  The family will receive visitors from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm and again from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

Cameron's funeral is Saturday at 1:00 pm at the church.