Piscataway Boy Who Died From Fish Allergy Laid To Rest

PISCATAWAY, NJ — A fundraising page set up for a Piscataway boy who tragically died on New Year's Day after his throat closed up due to a fish allergy, has far exceeded its initial $5,000 goal.

Sadly, Cameron Jean-Pierre, 11, of Piscataway, died at his grandmother's house in Brooklyn, where the family was visiting on New Year's Day. The family was from Brooklyn, but relocated to Piscataway two years ago. Cameron was a sixth-grader at Theodore Schor Middle School, according to the Piscataway School District.

Police said the child likely had some type of allergic reaction to the seafood as the family prepared dinner; his throat closed up (anaphylaxis) when he smelled the fish cooking.

The boy's mother, Jody Pottingr, told ABC News that Jean-Pierre was asthmatic and kept a nebulizer with him at all times. She said the boy went to her mother's house on New Year's Day, and also visited with his dad's mom and aunt, who were cooking salt fish.

"They thought that he left, because when his dad left, they thought he left with his dad," Pottingr said in an ABC News interview. "I guess they forgot something at the house and went back, and he went in the house and then he inhaled the fish. When he inhaled the fish, I guess that triggered off an asthma attack, and he couldn't breathe. His lungs tightened up, and his dad attempted to give him the nebulizer machine."

The boy's father, Steven Jean-Pierre, did CPR on his son at the home.

According to the father, his son's last words were "Daddy, I love you, Daddy, I love you.'"

Emergency responders rushed the boy to Brookdale Hospital but doctors were unable to save his life, said police.

"Our entire school community is deeply saddened by the loss of Cameron and we express our heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends," said Teresa M. Rafferty, superintendent of Piscataway Schools. "He was a good student and a positive and happy presence in the classroom."

Cameron will be buried Saturday, Jan. 12. The service is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Church, 9719 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn. Visitation for Cameron will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the Guarino Funeral Home, 9222 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn.

"Cameron was the apple of his parents' eyes, the best son anyone can ask for, and all around great kid. His personality always lit up the room and his maturity was awed by all," read his GoFundMe page. "His untimely demise is one that we will never understand but we ask that God carries his loved ones with a sense of peace through this tragedy."

The money will go towards his funeral expenses.

Past Patch reporting: NJ Boy, 11, From Piscataway Dies After Smelling Cooked Fish: Cops

Here is the link to his GoFundMe page (Patch is a promotional partner with GoFundMe): https://www.gofundme.com/camer...