Progeria Takes a Young Boy- Leaves a Legacy

Sam Berns didn’t want people to feel sorry for him; He was happy, despite the rare aging disease. When he was nearly 2 years old, Berns was diagnosed with progeria, a genetic disorder that affects approximately one-in-eight million children. Progeria leads to hair loss, stunted growth, joint deterioration and cardiac problems. Even with this disease limiting what he could do, Berns played the drums and was very interested in math. An engineer had to create a special drum weighing only 6 pounds because Berns only weighed 50 pounds and could not carry a regular drum.
Alyssa Sullivan, freshman “If I knew someone with progeria I would wish for them to know true friendship and the love of family. Also for them to be happy.”
Berns didnt want to be treated differently, he wanted to be treated as a normal teen.
Bern’s parents started the Progeria Research Foundation,to treat and better understand the disease. Berns was in the HBO documentary”Life according to Sam”.

Mary Tuttle, substitute teacher “If I knew someone with progeria, I would want them to know every person has a reason for their life. I would hope that person would realize the impact they made”

He died on Friday, January 10th, 2014,at 17 years old. He made it past the age people are expected to live with this disease. Saturday, January 11th, he would have been honorary captain of the New England Patriots.