News

Dying 8-Yr-Old Loves Superheroes, Has No Idea Major Celeb Is About to Show Up at Door

By Erin Coates March 31, 2018 at 9:58am

Everyone has a hero, someone they look up to and strive to be like. And someone who they can always turn to for help.

For kids, superheroes are usually those heroes. They dress up as Batman to protect Gotham City or guard Metropolis as Superman.

One little boy from Scotland, however, had a different superhero he wanted to ask for help from.

Aaron Hunter is 8 years old and has a rare, life-threating syndrome called ROHHAD (Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation).

ROHHAD attacks the autonomic nervous system and causes healthy children to rapidly gain weight and have trouble breathing.

With no one else to turn to, Aaron posted a video staged in his superhero themed bedroom asking Iron Man for help.

Please RT and help Aaron reach IronMan #AaronNeedsIronman he has terminal ROHHAD Disease & has special message 4 fav hero @RobertDowneyJr pic.twitter.com/9fppkTpKvB

— ROHHAD Association (@ROHHAD_GLOBAL) January 28, 2017

After the video gained thousands of retweets, Aaron was able to reach Robert Downey Jr.

But Iron Man took it one step further and decided to visit Aaron and his family to help raise funds and awareness for ROHHAD Disease.

Downey spent the weekend with Aaron and even created a contest to encourage people to donate to help find a cure for the disease.

Just a $10 donation enters donors for a chance to win a trip to Hollywood to visit Marvel Studios with the actor.

Aaron’s mother Lisa thanked Downey on Facebook for the visit and giving her son and his friends who also have the disease so much hope.

“Special Thanks to Robert Downey Jr and Team Downey for their Incredible support and promise to Help. The Hope all the families now have would not be happening without YOU.”

“This all began because of Aarons determination to help save all of his friends around the world and his unwavering belief that IronMan (Robert) would help him to do that.

“Aaron selfless loves and compassion was our inspiration. He kept us going and we knew we had to do all we could to reach the real IronMan for him.”

Thank you, Downey, for making this boy’s dreams come true. Keep fighting, Aaron!

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Erin Coates

Contributor, News

SummaryMore Biographical InformationRecent PostsContact

Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. A University of Oregon graduate, Erin has conducted research in data journalism and contributed to various publications as a writer and editor.

Erin Coates was an editor for The Western Journal for over two years before becoming a news writer. She grew up in San Diego, California, proceeding to attend the University of Oregon and graduate with honors holding a degree in journalism. During her time in Oregon, Erin was an associate editor for Ethos Magazine and a freelance writer for Eugene Magazine. She has conducted research in data journalism, which has been published in the book “Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future.” Erin is an avid runner with a heart for encouraging young girls and has served as a coach for the organization Girls on the Run. As a writer and editor, Erin strives to promote social dialogue and tell the story of those around her.

Birthplace

Tucson, Arizona

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated with Honors

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Oregon

Books Written

Contributor for Data Journalism: Past, Present and Future

Location

Prescott, Arizona