We didn’t think so.
Welcome to the world of rare diseases. In truth, rare diseases are health conditions most people have never heard of.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a disease is considered rare in the United States if it affects less than 200,000 people. In total, there are about 6,800 rare diseases, and these diseases affect 25 to 30 million Americans.
Those who experience rare diseases experience a range of issues. Not only is it tough to figure out just what’s going on, but treatment itself also can be limited. (And that’s if any research is being done on the disease at all.) Plus, rare diseases can be costly, racking up massive bills.
Rare Disease Day, held on the last day of February annually, is all about raising awareness for these conditions. There’s a reason this special date was selected. If you think about it, when Leap Day occurs, it's the rarest date on the calendar.
Originally established in Europe in 2008, more than 80 nations commemorate Rare Disease Day. In fact, the United States joined this growing force in 2009. And in 2013, President Barack Obama even sent a letter proclaiming his support of the day. In 2015, more than 14 states were said to have joined the Rare Disease Day bandwagon. Festivities included conferences, artistic events, fundraising walks and benefit dinners.