The remarkable Seth Cook

Sometimes, children seem more at ease with Seth than their parents do. Seth says he often attracts gawking from adults.

Seth: This lady was staring at me and she didn't even see the sign in front of me, she just ran right into it. (Chuckle)

Rob Stafford, Dateline correspondent: She kept walking and went boom?

Seth: Yep.

Stafford: Like right out of a cartoon.

Seth: Pretty much. (Laughter)

Stafford: What did you do?

Seth: I laughed. I tried to wait till she got down the other aisle of the store, though.

Stafford: You didn't wanna laugh in front of her?

Seth: Uh-huh. (Negative)

Stafford: And why is that?

Seth: Because I didn't wanna hurt her feelings.

Stafford: But she was kind of staring and being impolite toward you.  So why would you care?

Seth: Because two wrongs don't make a right.

Seth knows the way he looks attracts attention and his teachers say he often uses humor to put both children and adults at ease-- like on the first day of school when some classmates weren't quite sure how to react to him.

David Harcrow, science teacher: I was joking with the students and said, "If you get out of line, I've been known to toss a kid through a window."  Seth raised his hand and said, "What do I have to do to get thrown out the window?" Of course he was joking right along with me.

Stafford: He got your number that day.

David Harcrow: He did. The students relaxed and they thought it was funny.

Tim Cousins, math teacher: I look at Seth sometimes, and I listen to young people complain, and I say to myself, "What a tough young man this Seth is."

Stafford: Little guy, but tough guy?

Tim Cousins: Little guy, but tough guy.

After Rob and Seth climb up a hill together...

Stafford: I'm tired after that…

Seth: I am, too.

Seth: I’ve got arthritis. I can't go as far as most kids-- and I'll have to stop and rest.

Still, even with the arthritis, Seth is always eager for more.

Stafford: You up for the park? Or are you tired?

Seth: Sure. I just gotta go grab my shades.

But first, a trip to the market, where we found ourselves swept up in the Seth Cook celebrity entourage.

Cashier: How are you doing Mr. Seth?

Shopper: Hi Seth. How are you doing?

Seth: Good. How about you?

Stafford: There's another person you know.

Seth: Yeah.

Stafford: How many people do you know in this town?

Seth: A lot of them. (Laughs) 

There's a big advantage to living in a small town like Darrington, population 1200, where Seth gains confidence and security by knowing virtually everyone.

We bought bubbles for a game Seth plays with his dog.

Stafford: This is the first time I've ever put bubbles on an expense account.

(Seth laughs.)

There was one more important purchase before we left-- energy vitamins, something his mom discovered on our way out.

Patti Cook: Oh my goodness.

Seth: What?

Patti: You're not taking those energy pills, are you?

Seth: No.

Stafford: Those are mine.

Seth: Like I need energy pills.

Mom: Like you need energy pills?

Stafford: No, I need energy pills to keep up with you.

(Seth laughs.)

On this day, only the aptly named dog Bullet can keep up with Seth, chasing a tennis ball and then going bananas over the bubbles. Bullet crash-lands, and Seth, a little boy, lets out the biggest belly laugh.

Seth: Are you okay puppy?

Stafford: I don't think so. Did you hear that thud?

Seth: I did. (Laughs)

Stafford: I think Bullet needs a stunt dog.

Stafford, to Seth's mom Patti: How much does that laugh mean to you?

Patti: Priceless. We try to get as many of those on tape as possible. I try to get my video camera out quite often. We wanna save that forever.

Patti: He's definitely a joyful kid.

MORE ON ORGANIZATIONS The Sunshine Foundation The Sunshine Foundation recently had its 24th annual Progeria reunion. The gathering brings children with Progeria together. The foundation answers the dreams of seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children from all over the country. Click here to learn more.

There's one unique place where he can be joyful and not feel different. It's the Sunshine Foundation's annual Reunion for kids with progeria, where he first went in 1995.

Patti: We knew we would come back every year because he had such a good time.

For 10 straight reunions, Seth has been comfortable in the company of children just like him.

Patti: It was an amazing experience for us to see him so happy.

To raise money for the 2005 reunion in Orlando, the Sunshine Foundation held a gala fundraiser in New Jersey. Seth put on his formal best, brought his favorite date and even gave a little speech:

Seth: Last year, we did a speech and my mom interviewed me. This year, we're gonna turn it around. Mom, what's your favorite part of going to the reunions?

Patti: Being able to, first off, know that you have friends that are just like you. And you just have a wonderful week and I really like to be able to watch that.

Seth: (Whispers to mom) I forgot my other question. (Seth, mom and crowd laughs)

Stafford: On a scale of one to 10, 10 being the most important, how big a deal is this progeria reunion to you?

Seth: Probably a nine or a 10. It's really neat there.

Stafford: You love to go.

Seth: I love to go.

Seth: We get to go to theme parks. We get to be in a nice hotel. There's a swimming pool. It's always warm out. Big thunderstorms. That's really neat.

Stafford: And you get to see those kids?

Seth: Yeah, and I get to see my friends.

Dan Delong / Seattle Post Intelligencer  Patti Cook quickly wraps up her son Seth after he emerged from a short swimming session during the Sunshine Foundations' annual Progeria Reunion. Despite temperatures in the mid-90s and a swimming pool as warm as bathwater, Seth emerged with the chills because of his minimal body fat.

Seth is determined to make it to the next reunion and others in the years to come — provided his health doesn't betray him.

Back home in Darrington, just days after the gala fundraiser, Seth faced a serious medical crisis.

It looked like Seth might not get his wish.

Patti: You know, it's scary for us. I can't imagine being in his body when that's happening. He woke up and said his arm was numb.

February 2005: It was the middle of the night, just days after returning from the fundraiser in New Jersey, Patti and Kyle were sound asleep in their bedroom when Seth called out from across the hall.

Kyle: It’s like 2:30 in the morning and he woke up and told us he thought he was having one.

Stafford: He said, "Mom and dad, I'm having a T-I-A."

Kyle: Yeah.

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