Sam Berns: My Philosophy for a Happy Life

At 22 months old, Sam Berns was diagnosed with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, more commonly known as progeria. This was his philosophy for a happy life. He is featured in the documentary ‘Life According to Sam’ that premiered on October 21, 2013.

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ABOUT Sam Berns

“17-year-old Sam Berns lived with a rare genetic condition that accelerated the ageing process called progeria, a rare and rapid aging disease.

Since this TEDx talk, Sam passed away earlier this year on January 10, 2014 due to complications from this condition. Sam was a Junior at Foxboro High School in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where he achieved the highest honours and was a Percussion Section Leader in the High School Marching Band.

Sam also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. When asked once by a Journalist: “What is the most important thing people should know about you?” He replied:

“I have a very happy life. Even though there are many obstacles in my life, with a lot of them being created by Progeria, I don’t want people to feel bad for me. I don’t think about these obstacles all the time and I’m able to overcome most of them anyway.”

Sam’s parents, Doctors Leslie Gordon and Scott Berns founded their Non-Profit Organisation the Progeria Research Foundation to provide more information and research on the condition that is little understood.

The VIDEO