Sam Berns, a Massachusetts high school junior whose life with the illness progeria was the subject of a recent documentary film, died on Friday, January 10, 2014 in Boston, age 17.
The full length documentary, Life According to Sam, has been produced by HBO and should be available on NetFlix one of these days. “What is aging in Sam Berns, is aging in all of us. But in Sam’s body, the process is rapidly accelerated." For more on the documentary, see MedFlix.
Sam gave a (12 minute) TED talk: My Philosophy for a Happy Life. (Click on link to left for better view than box below)
Sam truly epitomizes the philosophy of Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.