Happy Rare Disease Day

Today is Rare Disease Day. It's actually the seventh such day, coming each February, although I never heard anything about the last six. We are all supposed to think about rare diseases today, which, although rare, do impact the lives of one in every 1,500 people in the United States.

There are 6,000 rare diseases, most of which are unknown to the general public. Leprosy is the most popular, and we all know that is a total bummer. In fact, the whole topic is depressing. People would much rather talk about the upcoming Oscars awards ceremony scheduled to air on TV this weekend. If there were a movie called "Rare Disease" starring Jenifer Lawrence or Amy Adams, Hollywood's latest hot chicks, then perhaps the public might care. Otherwise, the general water-cooler conversation is about trivial pursuits, the only kind of pursuits that ever get our attention.

I am sad for all the people with rare diseases and you should be too. To further bum you out/inform you of the situation, you should know that:
     Most rare diseases are genetic.
     Around 75% of rare diseases particularly affect children.
     Thirty percent of those diagnosed with a rare disease will die before age five.

Try and celebrate. That would involve thanking God you don't have one, being kind to someone who does, and sending money to aid research in curing a rare disease. Have fun!