“Our light has gone out”

He died in the past few hours Sammy Bassofamous for being the longest-lived sufferer of progeria to the world. He was 28 years old. He would have felt ill while he was in a restaurant, having returned to Italy a few days ago from a trip to Chinese.

The staff of theItalian Progeria Association (AIPro.Sa.B.) which the boy himself had founded in 2005 to spread knowledge about his illness and to promote research on it. “Today our light, our guide, went out. Thank you Sammy for letting us participate in this wonderful life. We gather around family and friends in respect of the pain in this delicate moment of mourning”, reads the note.

Sammy Basso was having dinner with family and friends in Villa Razzolini Loredan in Asolo (Treviso) when, suddenly, he felt ill. A Suem 118 ambulance arrived on the scene and doctors attempted to resuscitate him, but their attempt was in vain. Only a few days ago he was awarded the Paolo Rizzi Journalism Award in Venice in the “Environment and Society” category for “the willpower, the spirit of sacrifice, the courage that support him: a great example to look at with admiration and gratitude and try to imitate.”

Born in Schio on 1 December 1995, he graduated with 110 cum laude in natural sciences with a focus on molecular biology at the University of Padua in July 2018, presenting a thesis dedicated to the existence of therapies to slow down the progression of one’s pathology. On 7 June 2019 he received the insignia of Knighthood of the Order of Merit of the Republic which he had been awarded motu proprio by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.

He loved to travel the world, as seen in the docu-film for National Geographic entitled “Sammy’s Journey” and made along the Route 66, USAfrom Chicago to Los Angeles, with his parents and one of his best friends, Riccardo.

Many messages of condolence appeared on social media from figures from the world of entertainment and politics. Among these is that of the Minister for Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli: “An affectionate and touching thought for Sammy Basso, who left us at just 28 years old. Thanks to his courage and his determination, he made progeria known to the world, becoming an example of strength and hope. His commitment to research and his testimony will forever remain a precious heritage for all of us.”

As stated on the official website of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, progeria (illness di Hutchinson-Gilford – SPHG), is an extremely rare genetic disease, characterized by a aging accelerated which manifests itself early in childhood, without alteration of capacity intellectualbut with alterations of the skin, bones and cardiovascular system. It affects approximately 1 in 8 million live births in the United States of America.