Wednesday we're profiling the film Life According to Sam. Massachusetts teenager Sam Berns has a genetic syndrome called progeria. The name means "prematurely old" and though it's rare, children with the condition show dramatic signs of aging like balding, wrinkled skin, bone loss and heart problems. But Sam's parents – both doctors – weren't willing to accept that he might only live 13 years and they set out to find a treatment. We'll talk to Sam's mother Dr. Leslie Gordon and filmmakers Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine about family, commitment, sacrifice and hope.
To learn more, visit the Progeria Research Foundation.
On Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m., RadioWest and the Utah Film Center will present a screening of Life According to Sam at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City. It's part of our Through the Lens documentary series, and Sam's father Dr. Scott Berns will join us for a Q&A immediately following the film. We'll also be joined by the filmmakers.
The screening is free, but tickets are available on a first come basis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.