The Remarkable Seth Cook

Yesterday was the 13th birthday of an amazing little boy. Seth Cook is one of only 40 children in the world (14 in the USA) who has progeria--a very rare disease where children age at a rate 8-10 times faster than the rest of us. "Like dog years," Seth likes to say. Seth is the size of a 2 or 3-year-old and weighs only 25 lbs, but he has the body of an 80+ year old man. Most progeria children don't live past 13, because they die of a stroke or some other old age-related disease.

But though Seth could feel sorry about himself and the fact that he will never grow up, he is a happy, joyful boy. He embraces life with the most positive outlook. Seth is being raised in a praying, Christian home. He loves Jesus and he can't wait to go "fishing with the Lord" when He gets to Heaven. He says, "My house in heaven has got lots of rooms for people, and some for pets. And it has a zero-gravity room. You go hunting for gummy bears and chocolate rabbits. And when you fish, you're guaranteed three a day."

Rob Stafford, the Dateline correspondent on this story, said he worried about saying the wrong thing to a boy with a terrible disease, and left wanting to spend more time with one of the wisest persons he'd ever met.

I was really moved by Seth's story--his contentment, positive outlook, and choice to accept God's will for his life as a blessing. It was a rebuke to me for all the times I've complained about little things or been pessemistic about my life. May the story of little Seth be a testimony to us all to give God the best we can and to live for His glory.

Audio/Video/Picture files:

• Seth in his own words: About progeria (MP3 Real), Living with it (MP3 Real), His dog Bullet (MP3 Real)
• His parents Patti and Kyle Cook on raising a progeria kid (MP3 Real)
• http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/seth/
• Online Dateline broadcast on Seth: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13580533/

Update June 2007:

Seth Cook, who lived in Darrington and captured hearts all over the world, died Monday, June 25, at his home with his family around him. He was 13 years old and had recently suffered a heart attack as a consequence of progeria, a rare disorder that causes accelerated aging.

"He will be missed by so many as there were so many lives he touched," said his mom, Patti Cook.

Seth had friends all over the world, including other children with progeria. Many were charmed by his practical jokes and quick wit. But his courage, kindness and sense of humor also moved many who knew him only through stories and network broadcasts about him.

"Anyone coming in contact with Seth was always amazed, and totally taken with him and what a beautiful and wonderful person he was ... so full of faith, loving, caring, funny and just living life to the fullest," said a cousin, Leila Booker, in an e-mail.

"He was full of life," said his dad, Kyle Cook. "He may have been short in stature, but he was a giant."

To read this entire article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/321200_seth26.html.

Seth -- you were an inspiration to me. Thank you for teaching me to always be positive and to make a difference every where I go!