Meet Enzo: A Teenager's Journey of Creativity, Resilience, and Hope
This page is dedicated to sharing the story of Enzo, his family, and his inspirational life.
Enzo is a teenager from Australia with a radiant, contagious smile. He loves creating videos for his YouTube channel, EnzoCubeHead, and is a natural storyteller who always has a tale to share. Whether he is drawing stunning pictures on his iPad or painting them on canvas, Enzo’s creativity shines through.
Enzo’s journey has been marked by resilience from the very beginning. Born 8 weeks premature, he spent his first 6 weeks in the hospital. Despite overcoming these early challenges with his sweet smile, Dr. Christopher Barnett, Head of Paediatric and Reproductive Genetics at The Women's and Children's Hospital, noticed something wasn’t right.
On June 12, 2014, Enzo’s family heard the term Progeria for the first time. "It is an aging disease," the doctor explained, and there was a dead silence in the room. Enzo was officially diagnosed with Progeria, a very rare, rapid aging disease, on August 11, 2014.
Progeria affects about 1 in 20 million people, causing children to age 8 to 10 times faster than their peers, with an average lifespan of just 14 years. Currently, Enzo is the only child in Australia living with this condition. Undeterred by these challenges, Enzo has built a supportive community.
A full-time high school student, Enzo excels in Digital Technologies, Science, and Art, which are his favourite subjects. He enjoys his time at school with his friends, where he is very popular. While football is his favourite sport and he proudly supports The Adelaide Crows, Enzo’s condition prevents him from playing contact sports safely. Instead, he enjoys weekly tennis lessons and fishing. His passion for speed and racing is evident in his delight for his new electric wheelchair—a unique way to join in the fun with his peers, reminding us that everyone enjoys life in their own special way.
In 2022, Enzo participated in the Embrace Kids documentary, an experience that resonated deeply with him, especially its message of self-acceptance and kindness toward others. Music is another passion; he is learning to play the drums, is part of the drumline at his school, and dreams of mastering the electric guitar in senior high school.
Every year, Enzo, his family, and friends take part in the City-to-Bay Fun Run in Adelaide. While some friends tackle the 3km or full 12km routes, Enzo proudly completes the 6km walk. Crossing the finish line is a moment of triumph that never fails to inspire.
Team Enzo organizes fundraising events to help cover his medical and therapeutic costs and to raise awareness about Progeria. Donations to The Enzo Cornejo Necessitous Circumstances Fund not only support his health needs but also help finance his travel to Boston, USA, where he participates in life-changing clinical trials run by the Progeria Research Foundation.
On a hopeful note, recent clinical trials have extended the lifespan of children with Progeria into their early twenties, and in 2020, the first treatment from these trials was approved in the USA. In 2025, a new clinical trial featuring the drug Progerinin is underway, exploring whether its combination with lonafarnib (Zokinvy) offers even greater benefits.
Credit Hero Photo: The Advertiser / Matt Turner
Enzo’s journey has been marked by resilience from the very beginning. Born 8 weeks premature, he spent his first 6 weeks in the hospital. Despite overcoming these early challenges with his sweet smile, Dr. Christopher Barnett, Head of Paediatric and Reproductive Genetics at The Women's and Children's Hospital, noticed something wasn’t right.
On June 12, 2014, Enzo’s family heard the term Progeria for the first time. "It is an aging disease," the doctor explained, and there was a dead silence in the room. Enzo was officially diagnosed with Progeria, a very rare, rapid aging disease, on August 11, 2014.
Progeria affects about 1 in 20 million people, causing children to age 8 to 10 times faster than their peers, with an average lifespan of just 14 years. Currently, Enzo is the only child in Australia living with this condition. Undeterred by these challenges, Enzo has built a supportive community.
A full-time high school student, Enzo excels in Digital Technologies, Science, and Art, which are his favourite subjects. He enjoys his time at school with his friends, where he is very popular. While football is his favourite sport and he proudly supports The Adelaide Crows, Enzo’s condition prevents him from playing contact sports safely. Instead, he enjoys weekly tennis lessons and fishing. His passion for speed and racing is evident in his delight for his new electric wheelchair—a unique way to join in the fun with his peers, reminding us that everyone enjoys life in their own special way.
In 2022, Enzo participated in the Embrace Kids documentary, an experience that resonated deeply with him, especially its message of self-acceptance and kindness toward others. Music is another passion; he is learning to play the drums, is part of the drumline at his school, and dreams of mastering the electric guitar in senior high school.
Every year, Enzo, his family, and friends take part in the City-to-Bay Fun Run in Adelaide. While some friends tackle the 3km or full 12km routes, Enzo proudly completes the 6km walk. Crossing the finish line is a moment of triumph that never fails to inspire.
Team Enzo organizes fundraising events to help cover his medical and therapeutic costs and to raise awareness about Progeria. Donations to The Enzo Cornejo Necessitous Circumstances Fund not only support his health needs but also help finance his travel to Boston, USA, where he participates in life-changing clinical trials run by the Progeria Research Foundation.
On a hopeful note, recent clinical trials have extended the lifespan of children with Progeria into their early twenties, and in 2020, the first treatment from these trials was approved in the USA. In 2025, a new clinical trial featuring the drug Progerinin is underway, exploring whether its combination with lonafarnib (Zokinvy) offers even greater benefits.
Credit Hero Photo: The Advertiser / Matt Turner
"We always knew Enzo was special, but we never imagined he was 1 in 20 million."
