The remarkable Seth Cook

His cry in the night was what Seth's parents had dreaded ever since he was diagnosed with progeria. Seth was having a seizure, known as a TIA, a precursor to a stroke that briefly cuts off the blood supply to the brain.

Rob Stafford, Dateline correspondent: How many of these mini-strokes has Seth had?

Patti: He's had a few.

In fact, just 3 months before, Patti said he had two TIAs in a single hour, making them very nervous.

Patti: A lot of times it leads up to a major stroke and now it was happening all over again.

Customary for senior citizens, not 11-year-olds, Seth's seizure had all the classic signs: facial paralysis, slurred speech and overall numbing.

Stafford: How did he look?

Kyle: A little bit scared.

Patti and Kyle immediately sprung into action.

Kyle: We're both in there to calm him down and comfort him.

But in the back of their minds, there was unimaginable fear. It's a fear they live with every day, the way other adults are terrified of that late-night phone call about their elderly parents.

Kyle: You never know, is the time, you know, it's gonna be the end?

If things had gotten worse, they would have rushed him to the hospital, where he'd been several times before.

But after about 10 minutes, the symptoms subsided and the ordeal was over. For now.

Patti: It's scary for us. I can't imagine being in his body when that's happening.

Stafford: Is it scary?

Seth: It's pretty scary, yeah.

Patti was so concerned she put Seth's name on their church prayer list.

Patti: He wasn't too keen on that.

Stafford: Why not?

Seth: I don't like people feeling sorry for me.

Stafford: But if you're on the prayer list, it's not because they're feeling sorry for you, they're trying to help you out.

Seth: I know. I just don't like too much attention where they're worried about me.

Patti:  I think he wants people to enjoy him for who he is and not worry about his sickness.

And no one has taken that lesson to heart more than Patti and Kyle. Despite their son's devastating disease, they refuse to dwell on the negative.

Patti: How are we gonna choose to deal with this? Be devastated or are we gonna choose to try to live his life out the best that we can? We definitely choose to try to live his life out the best we can.

To be in a sour mood, or to be sad or to feel like I was crying in front of him. It wasn't acceptable to me. I didn't want to spoil his joy.

Stafford: So how much acting do you have to do to get through the day?

Patti: I don't know if it's acting, you know. He's such a joy to be around that you can't help but be happy.

Kyle: We're better people because of Seth, no doubt about it.

And as devoted as two parents could be. Despite living in small-town Darrington, they've found ways to expose Seth to as many exciting experiences as possible.

They've taken him all over the country -- to Mount Rushmore, the White House and SeaWorld in Orlando for previous progeria reunions.

And as Seth told us, he can't wait to go to Orlando again for this year's reunion. He's also met some celebrities -- movie star Sandra Bullock and NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

But his biggest thrill was when his parents set up a meeting with country music star Alan Jackson.

Seth: My dad was a big fan of Alan Jackson and it passed down to me. He's my favorite singer.

Stafford: What's your favorite song?

Seth: "Little bitty."

Stafford: Why do you like that song so much?

Seth: Because I'm little bitty.

From his perspective, from the tiny La-z-Boy in his room, Seth Cook is living large.

Seth: I love everything I have. I have more than I could possibly think of. I love my dog. I love my mom and dad.

Seth will tell you, the trips and celebrities are certainly nice, but there's nothing he enjoys more than down-home family activities, like the day we watched a cutthroat game of Monopoly with his parents and two cousins.

Here he's teasing one cousin about her schoolgirl crush that he thinks he's revealing on Dateline. Only we've deleted the name to protect the innocent.

Seth: She likes (bleep).

Seth's cousin: Shush. (Laughter)

Seth: Live TV. No, not live. Nationwide TV!

Cousin: I'm gonna cry.

And while playing Monopoly, in possibly the best use of the math he hates, he's counting his good fortune and not hiding his glee. 

Seth: I get 200 bucks. (Cackles) I get 400 bucks. And I got past all your properties. Four hundred bucks.

Patti: I really like to be around him. He's fun, he's quick-witted. He can make me laugh.

And to be around him as much as she can for the time they have together...

Patti quit her job at a local mechanic's shop. It's also why Kyle leaves his construction job and hurries home for lunch and why weekends are family time.

Patti: You're getting better at that.

Seth: Here, I'll get it.

Patti: Oops. (Laughs)

Kyle: Did your mom sit on the dog?

Patti: (Laughs) I did sit on the dog. Are you ok?

Kyle: He growled at you.

Patti: Poor doggie, I'm so sorry.

Stafford: What's your best day?

Kyle: My weekends are my best days, with Patti and Seth, you know?

Patti: Mmm-hmm.

Kyle: If we get to go fishing or hunting or camping.

And those days mean so much to Seth, like the time his dad bagged a bear, and Seth, who was along for the ride, bagged quite a story to tell his friends.

Seth: So we started flying down the mountain, my hot cocoa started spilling. We stopped, poured out the hot cocoa, and then started speeding down the mountain again.  We got to the bottom, and the bear was still there.  So my dad chased it up a tree, and shot it out of the tree.

Stafford: You saw the whole thing?

Seth: I saw the whole thing.

Kyle is an accomplished outdoorsman and Seth, his young protege. Kyle taught him how to shoot a rifle.

Stafford: Let's go for the big game, Dr. Pepper.

With soda cans loaded for bear, it's target-practice in the Cook's backyard.

Stafford: Ready to go?

Seth: Yep.

Stafford: I’m gonna stand back a little. (Laughter)

Sporting his miniature 22-caliber rifle, Seth misses on his first shot.

Seth: Almost.

Reloaded, he takes aim again.

Stafford: There you go!

Kyle: That's a pretty good shot, buddy!

Seth: Thanks!

Kyle: Seth’s a blast to be with, you know? I can't think of anyone else I’d rather spend time with so I enjoy every minute of it.

Seth: I caught a fish.

Kyle: Alright Seth, cool.

Stafford: Some of those fish are almost bigger than he is.

Kyle: Yeah

Stafford: He’s only what?  Twenty-five pounds?

Kyle: Yeah.

Patti: Twenty-five. And that's soaking wet.  

Stafford: Time is something that you must watch really closely.

Kyle: More so every day.

Patti: Definitely more so every day.

And that's why they've chosen not to have any more children, preferring to focus all their attention on Seth.

Stafford: Do you pray for a cure?

Kyle: I’ve prayed for cures a lot. 

Dan Delong / Seattle Post Intelligencer  A nighttime ritual, Patti Cook and her son Seth, along with the family dog Bullet, pray at Seth's bedtime in their Darrington home on July 24, 2004.

And this scientist, racing the clock, is their best hope to answer their prayers.

Dr. Leslie Gordon: Once you know a child with progeria like you've gotten to know Seth, you love them. 

Every morning and every night I see the faces of the children that I know and they inspire me.

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