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Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Analysis

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Sam Berns appeared completely normal physically and genetically when he was first born. However, as he began to age into his childhood his parents observed certain aspects that where not evident of a normal child. Sam Berns was then diagnosed with Progeria which is also known as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. According to Sam Berns video “My Philosophy for a Happy Life” approximately 350 kids are affected with this syndrome worldwide. The etiology or the generic cause of progeria is based solely on the child’s genetics. Even though the syndrome is based on genetics, it is not inherited or passed down in families. Also, the syndrome can be in both sexes and all races. Genetically the child instead of having the normal protein of Lamin …show more content…

At birth the children who have Progeria appear completely normal. The child does not appear to have the obvious signs or symptoms of the symptom until after the first year of life. The more prominent clinical manifestations or signs and symptoms a child with Progeria experiences are the following: tight skin, lack of weight gain, stunted growth, abnormal tooth growth, high-pitched voice, hair loss, and loss of body fat and muscles. However, the main visible aspect of a child with Progeria is as the child ages the child begins to age quickly. A child who may be eight years old will instead look about the age of eighty. Also, as the child begins to age the child begin to experience diseases that would be evident later in life such as when a person passes the age of fifty. Some of these diseases in include: heart disease, osteopenia or bone loss, and arteriosclerosis or hardening of the …show more content…

The wind was up that day and the waves from the boat seemed to increase rapidly while we where on the tube. At one point, we hit a wave just right and the wind made its way under our tube and Miriam and I went tumbling off into the water. When I fell into the water I felt my elbow hit something that was firm. When I finally bobbed up from the water, I was holding onto my elbow because it was in an intense amount of pain. At this point Miriam had not came out from the water, however, when she did I noticed a gapping hole in above her eye and blood running down her face. The boat had stopped a few feet ahead of us and apparently could not hear me screaming to come closer fast. I told Miriam to swim fast that I had hurt myself because I did not want to frighten her. However, she just waded in the water. In this moment I knew I had to do something quickly but in the back of my mind the only thing I was thinking was how am I going to get Miriam and myself back to the boat when I cannot swim. Then it hit me with that attitude I was not going to get us back to the boat. I grabbed Miriam’s life jacket with my right arm despite the pain in my elbow and started paddling and kicking as hard as possible hoping to get to the boat. Surprisingly, we made it back to the boast despite my lack of knowing how to swim. Therefore, my determination and

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