Sampson Gordon "Sam" Berns (October 23, 1996 - January 10, 2014) was an American teen who had progeria and helped raise awareness about the disease. He was the subject of the HBO documentary Life According to Sam, which was first screened in January 2013. He died one year later, after appearing in a TEDx Talks video titled "My philosophy for a happy life."
Video Sam Berns
Progeria Research Foundation
His parents, Scott Berns and Leslie Gordon, both pediatricians, received their son's diagnosis when he was less than two years of age. Roughly a year later, they established the Progeria Research Foundation in an effort to increase awareness of the condition, to promote research into the underlying causes of and possible treatments for the disease, and to offer resources for the support of sufferers and their families.
Maps Sam Berns
Honors
Boston Bruins
On November 9, 2013, the Boston Bruins welcomed Berns to drop the ceremonial first puck for a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped host Progeria Awareness Night at the TD Garden in Boston, dropping the ceremonial puck, serving as Assistant Equipment Manager for the team, and watching their warmups from the team's bench. Berns and Zdeno Chára, the Bruins captain, had been strong friends since 2006, when Berns attended a Bruins game and met Chára afterwards. Chára had scored in that game and Berns blurted out "You're the hero!". Chára responded: "No, no, you're my hero, our hero."
Before the puck dropped on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, the Bruins honored Berns with a moment of silence and a video tribute.
New England Patriots
Berns was to be an honorary captain when the New England Patriots hosted the Indianapolis Colts in a divisional playoff game on January 11, 2014; however, he died on January 10, the evening before the game.
Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft issued a statement on the news of the passing of Berns.
TED Talk, Sam Berns
"My Philosophy for a Happy Life" was recorded in 2013 by Sam Berns at the TEDxMidAtlantic and has been viewed over 29 million times (as of April 2018).
Life According to Sam
Life According to Sam is a 2013 documentary film based on the life of Sam Berns and has been shown at film festivals, including Sundance, and it was broadcast on HBO in October. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it is among 15 documentaries considered for Oscar nominations.
National Institutes of Health, dedication to Sam Berns
Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the NIH, made a heartfelt statement after the sudden passing of Sam.
See also
- Hayley Okines -- English girl who had progeria who had been the subject of television specials both in Europe and in the United States
- Lizzie Velásquez -- American woman with Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome, a non-terminal condition similar to progeria, who is an author and motivational speaker
References
External links
- Progeria Research Foundation
- HBO: Documentaries | Life According to Sam | Home
- CNN - "Beloved teen Sam Berns dies at 17 after suffering from rare disease"
- My Philosophy for a Happy Life: Sam Berns gives a lecture at TEDxMidAtlantic 2013
- Sam Berns, 'remarkable' teen who battled rare rapid aging disease, progeria, dies at age 17
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments