Sam Berns the kid suffered accelerated aging disease dies at 17

Progeria sufferer Sam Berns dies at 17......Saturday night could have been a moment for Sam Berns to celebrate -- standing in the
middle of Gillette Stadium, flanked by some of his
beloved New England Patriots, and no doubt
cheered heartily by the nearly 70,000 fans
surrounding him. But it wasn't to be. Instead of having Berns as an honorary captain in
their NFL playoff with the Indianapolis Colts, the
Patriots held a moment of silence for the young
man who inspired them and many others as he
lived with progeria, which causes premature,
accelerated aging. "Do it for Sammy!" one man yelled, piercing the
quiet, in video of the ceremony on Boston.com. Berns died Friday evening due to complications
from the rare genetic disease, according to the Progeria Research Foundation. He was 17. "I loved Sam Berns and am richer for having
known him," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "He
was a special young man whose inspirational
story and positive outlook on life touched my
heart." Advances in kids' early aging disease Kraft, one of the most well-respected owners in
his sport, wasn't Berns' only fan. Far from it. Part of it had to do with his part in the HBO documentary, "Life According to Sam," which documented his living with what is formally called
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. He spoke at a TEDx conference in October 2013 about his disease. More than anything, Sam lived. A student at Foxborough High School -- in his and
the Patriots' hometown -- he joined the marching
band, playing a specially designed snare drum. He
didn't let the fact that he weighed all of 50 pounds
or that the average life span of someone with
progeria is 13 years discourage him. He attended his school's homecoming dance. And above all,
he kept his head up. "Even though I have many obstacles in my life, I
don't want people to feel bad for me," Berns said
in that TedX talk. Progeria affects approximately one in every 4
million to 8 million infants; there are only about
200 children living with it worldwide. The genetic
mutation tied to it causes those with the disease
to produce the protein progerin, which blocks
normal cell function. As they age rapidly, these children suffer from a
loss of body fat and hair and an inability to gain
weight. They are prone to developing osteoporosis, a
disease where bones become weak and are more
likely to break. "All in all, I don't waste energy feeling bad for
myself," Berns said. "I surround myself with
people that I want to be with. And I keep moving
forward." That attitude influenced many, regular folks and
celebrities. Those tweeting their condolences
included Katie Couric, ESPN columnist Rick Reilly
and many Boston-area athletes. "The warrior, Sam Berns passed away today," tweeted the Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand. "He was an inspiration to everyone. You will be missed
greatly. "Fly High.