Prematurely Aged Biologist Praises God In Letter For His Own Funeral

An Italian, who was one of the oldest survivors of progeria -- a rare congenital condition leading to premature aging -- has passed away at the age of 28. Sammy Basso was eating dinner with family members in Asolo, a town in the Veneto region, when he died on October 5. He was the oldest person living with the condition.

Also known as Hutchinson-Gilford Syndrome, progeria is caused by a gene mutation that causes patients to age faster than others. Progeria patients usually live into their teens or early 20s. Basso was more fortunate that others. Only 130 cases of progeria have been identified worldwide.

Basso completed a master's degree in molecular biology just three years ago, contributing to research into the condition and its treatment. He was active with the Sunshine Foundation.

In a letter written for his own funeral, Basso wrote: "He, our God, the one true God, is the first cause and the end of all things." Excerpts: 

"Let us think of death in a positive way: if it were not there, we would probably not finish anything in our lives, because there is always tomorrow. Death, on the other hand, lets us know that there is not always tomorrow, that if we want to do something, the time is now! But for a Christian, death is also something else! Since Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for all our sins, death is the only way to really live, it is the only way to finally return to the Father's house, it is the only way to finally see His face. And as a Christian I faced death. I did not want to die, I was not ready to die, but I was ready. The only thing that makes me melancholy is not being there to see the world change and move on. For the rest, I hope that in my last moment I was able to see death as St Francis, whose words have accompanied me all my life. I hope that I too have been able to welcome death as 'sister death' from which no living person can escape. If I was worthy in life, if I carried my cross as I was asked to do, I am now with the Creator".

"I am now with my God, the God of my fathers, in His indestructible house. He, our God, the one true God, is the first cause and the end of all things. In the face of death, nothing makes sense except him. Therefore, although it is not necessary to say it, for He knows everything, as I have thanked you, I would like to thank Him too. I owe my whole life, every good thing, to God. Faith has accompanied me and without my faith I would not be what I am. He changed my life, He took it, He made something extraordinary out of it, and He did it in the simplicity of my daily life. Never grow weary, my brothers, of serving God and of acting according to His commandments, because without Him nothing makes sense and because our every action will be judged and will decide who will live forever and who will have to die".

"I have certainly not been the best of Christians, I have certainly been a sinner, but that does not matter now: what matters is that I have tried my best and would do it again. Never tire, my brothers, of carrying the cross that God has assigned to each of us, and do not be afraid to be helped in carrying it, as Jesus was helped by Joseph of Arimathea".

On June 7, 2019, Basso was granted the Knighthood of the Order of Merit of Italy by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarell. Basso was a friend of Sam Berns, an American who suffered the same condition. Berns was the subject of an HBO documentary, Life According to Sam.