Denny Sim; Monroe High Student Battled Aging Disease

NORTH HILLS —  Denny Sim had beaten the odds for nearly five years.

But two weeks before his 18th birthday, Sim lost his courageous battle against progeria, a rare, incurable disease that accelerates aging and has a reported incidence of about 1 in 8 million newborns.

Sim, a popular student athlete at Monroe High School in North Hills who stood 4 feet tall and weighed less than 40 pounds, was one of only 27 known living victims of the disease, according to the International Progeria Registry. The average life expectancy for a progeria victim is 13 years.

With family and friends at his bedside, Sim, hospitalized because of complications caused by pneumonia, died of a heart attack March 17 at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles.

“He was a wonderful young man,” said Joan Elam, principal at Monroe. “He was a wonderful example that despite the odds, you can do everything that you choose to do.”

Sim, who had the appearance of a man in his 80s, was active despite heart disease, high blood pressure and weakened bones.

He was a member of the Monroe tennis team and an above-average student in the law and government magnet. He had hoped to attend UCLA in the fall.

An inspiration to all who knew him, Sim was an outgoing, friendly and generous teenager who was interested in living life to the fullest. His parents, Korean natives who do not speak English, always tried to accommodate their only son’s wishes.

“It was tough having him out there with the disease sometimes, especially when he wasn’t feeling well,” said Matt Oliphant, Sim’s coach at Monroe. “But I share with his parents the thought to give him every opportunity to go out there and play and be with his friends as long as he can.”

A perpetual trophy in Sim’s name will be given to the most inspirational tennis player each year at Monroe. Sim, who was honored as most inspirational player last year, will be the posthumous first recipient of the award this season.

Sim, who contracted pneumonia about six weeks ago, twice collapsed on the tennis courts since then, complaining of shortness of breath.

“There was nothing that was going to keep him from playing,” Oliphant said. “He literally fell over trying to play.”

Funeral services for Sim, who will be buried with his tennis racket and favorite Nike sports cap, will be at 1 p.m. today at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills.

“He always enjoyed wearing that cap,” said Jane Sim, his oldest sister. “He had so many new caps, but that was the one he always wore.”