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A Familiar Face from Williamsport to Appear on TLC

WILLIAMSPORT — A young boy from Williamsport has caught the attention of a national television series. Giovanni Hamilton suffers with a rare genetic disor...
giovanni

WILLIAMSPORT -- A young boy from Williamsport has caught the attention of a national television series.

Giovanni Hamilton suffers with a rare genetic disorder that affects his muscles.

We first met up with the 8 year old last November and we met up with him again on Thursday, just one week before he appears on a new TLC series.

He may not go to Hepburn-Lycoming Primary near Williamsport anymore but there was a warm welcome waiting for 8-year-old Giovanni Hamilton when he stopped by and surprised his friends in Mrs. Burger's second grade class.

"I was happy because I got to see my friends again," Giovanni said.

Giovanni suffers with a rare disorder called Schwartz-Jampel syndrome.  It affects the use of his muscles.

Until now, Giovanni and his family have been keeping a secret from his friends.

"My show is going to be on TV," Giovanni revealed.

"To not be able to talk about it was incredibly difficult for everybody, especially for Giovanni because he just wanted to tell everyone about his new friend," said Giovanni's mother Shannon Algarin.

Giovanni's new friend Owen Howkins is his co-star in an episode of a new TLC series called "Two in a Million."

"He's like me and he has the same condition. He's the one that got me into Minecraft," said Giovanni.

With fewer than 100 cases ever diagnosed, TLC brought together the two boys who are both suffering with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome.

Over the summer, Giovanni's family welcomed a crew from TLC into their home for about two weeks. The family that now lives in Johnstown says most of the episode was shot in the Williamsport area.

11-year-old Owen Howkins and his family traveled from the United Kingdom to shoot the episode called "Boys of Steel."

"We spent about a week with Owen and his family. It was incredible. We have made friends for life," said Shannon.

Giovanni's episode, "Boys of Steel," will air April 6 at 10 p.m. on TLC.

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