Born in 1996, Sampson Gordon “Sam” Berns rose to fame as the American teen with progeria who helped raise awareness about the disease. He was the subject of a documentary called Life According to Sam, which debuted in January 2013.

His parents, Scott Berns and Leslie Gordon, received their son’s diagnosis when he was less than two years of age. About a year later, they established the Progeria Research Foundation in an effort to increase awareness of the condition, to promote research into the causes and possible treatments for the diseases and to offer support for the families of those diagnosed.

At just 17 years old, Sam was well-known for his positive attitude, despite his daily obstacles. He lost his life to the disease in January 2014, about a month after appearing in this TedTalk video.

How do you live a happy life? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

*Biography from Wikipedia.com.