The Remarkable Seth Cook
Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 5:23 PM by Dateline Editor
by Fred Rothenberg, Dateline Producer
I learned a lot from Seth Cook. And he was only 11 years old.
When I first met Seth for a Dateline story, he was racing his toy truck down the hill in front of his house in Darrington, Wash. Because he was just 3-feet tall and would never get any bigger, he was actually "on" the truck, riding down the hill. I was scared for him, but he had mastered the move and showed no fear.
It was Seth's lot in life, as teacher, that he taught so many people not to worry about him and enjoy him for who he was.
Who he was, was so much more than just a boy with progeria, the rare disease that ages children prematurely. Except for his wisdom beyond his years, he would never grow up ... just grow older.
He was a joyful pre-teen who loved playing video games and watching his hyperactive dog crash-land trying to reach an elusive bubble. Oh, did that make him laugh as the dog -- who was not hurt -- landed with a thud.
But that wasn't his only type of infectious laugh. Anyone who watched him play a cutthroat game of Monopoly will remember that infamous cackle as he successfully maneuvered past enemy properties and collected 400 bucks. Then we'd all laugh as he fanned himself with his new-found pile of cash.
But we also cried when he announced to correspondent Rob Stafford, "I can't wait to get to heaven." It had gummi bears, chocolate rabbits and no limitations on the fish he would catch, he said. His late grandfather was there, too.
As we all wanted, Rob said he wanted Seth to wait ... to wait long enough for a cure for progeria.
Well, there's a big hole on earth today and a bigger addition to heaven.
Seth Cook died Monday, a month before his 14th birthday. His huge heart finally gave out on him.
As his mother, Patti, said in announcing his passing: "He will be missed by so many as there were so many lives he touched."
Dateline and our viewers were honored to be among the people he touched.
For more information, visit The Progeria Research Foundation
