Beloved teen Sam Berns dies at 17 after suffering from rare disease

Beloved teen Sam Berns dies at 17 after suffering from rare disease

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/11/us/progeria-sam-berns-dies/index.html?hpt=us_t4

Beloved 17 year-old Sam Berns, a patient of progeria, passed away Friday evening due to complications from his rare genetic disease. He was loved by his community amongst Foxborough High School and the New England Patriots, who held a moment of silence for him during their playoff with the Indianapolis Colts. Berns was recognized for his appearance in the HBO documentary "Life According to Sam", where he spoke on what it was like living with progeria syndrome. 

Progeria lives within about 200 children worldwide. The genetic mutation that it is tied to causes the victim to produce progerin, a protein that blocks normal cell function. Ultimately, the children who are diagnosed with this genetic mutation age unusually quickly, and lose the ability to gain weight, along with the loss of hair and body fat. 

Berns demonstrated an amazingly positive attitude in his lifetime claiming that he surrounded himself with people he enjoys and constantly motivating himself to move forward. Sam Berns is an incredibly inspirational young man. I have so much respect for this guy and his attitude towards even the utmost of adversities. I don't consider for a second the physical image he was born to be off-putting like it may be for some others. I consider him as a hero and an inspiring, and beautiful human being. People like this should be an example for anyone facing adversity. If you're given a problem you cannot undo or escape from, the best solution is to look forward, move on, and be happy with what you were given and what you can get out of your life. If you make the best of what you're given, you will be rewarded in ways you can only imagine.