17-year-old Sam Berns passed away this weekend after his highly publicized lifelong battle with a rare aging disease.
The New England native had a genetic disorder known as Progeria, which comes from a Greek word which roughly translates to “prematurely old.” Those diagnosed with the disease usually show symptoms such as joint pain, heart disease, hair loss, aged skin, and stunted growth.
Sam’s battle with Progeria was the subject of the HBO documentary Life According To Sam, which helped him gain the support of his community as well as local teams like the Boston Bruins and the New England Patriots.
According to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Sam was scheduled to be the team’s honorary captain for their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, however, they instead had a moment of silence in his honor.
To say Sam lost his battle to the disease would be a huge disservice because he was able to accomplish so much and touch so many lives in just 17 years. Rest in peace, Sam.
[Image via HBO.]
