Tomorrow, Feb.  29, is Rare Disease Day. If you’re living with a rare disease that’s led to infertility or made pregnancy extremely risky, then we’d like to take some time to talk about what this day means for intended parents just like you. If you’ve been living with infertility, then you know these struggles all too well.

Whether you’re an intended parent, about to become one, or a friend or family member of one, here is everything you need to know about Rare Disease Day.

So, What is Rare Disease Day?

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February every year. That means, this year, it just so happens to fall on Feb. 29.

The main goal of today is to help spread awareness about rare diseases and those who live with them. Over 300 million are currently living with some form of rare disease around the world. Some of these rare diseases can actually cause infertility or make pregnancy extremely dangerous for hopeful parents, which is why many of our intended parents have turned to surrogacy. And according to RESOLVE, about 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility on the road to building their family.

If you’re still coming to terms with infertility, remember that it’s not your fault. Keep in mind that you can always reach out to a surrogacy specialist or a trained counselor at any time if you’re having trouble coping.  It might feel impossible, but there are techniques that can help you cope with the stress of living with infertility.

Reaching Out

Living with a rare disease can be exhausting, and there might be only so much that you can do. Similarly, many intended parents cope with infertility alone, afraid to reach out to those closest to them.

If you take away anything from Rare Disease Day, it’s that you’re never alone. Many families have been in your exact shoes and know just what you’re feeling. As such, this is a perfect opportunity to reach out to other families who are hoping to make their parenting dreams come true through surrogacy. There are support groups online and in-person for people like you. If you’re looking for some more direction, contact a surrogacy specialist today.

Getting Involved

There are plenty of ways that you can get involved today. These are just some of the few ideas, but don’t be afraid to check out rarediseaseday.org for some more tips on how you can get involved. For more inspiration, reach out here.

• Spread the word on social media: One of the best places to spread awareness is through social media. Shout your support through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or whichever platform you use. Use #RareDiseaseDay on your posts and use the official Facebook frame for your profile picture!
• Share your story: There are more people that have been impacted by a rare disease than you think. Share your story of living with a rare disease and send it to rarediseaseday.org to help someone else who’s in your shoes. Don’t forget to include a picture in your post! We know that you might be nervous, but you never know who you might inspire with your words and pictures.
• Donate: If you’d like to make a financial statement of awareness, you can always donate toward Rare Disease Day. Any amount, no matter how small, will always make a difference. Learn more about donating here.
• Host your own fundraiser: To get even more involved, you might even think about starting your own fundraiser in honor of today, too. This is also a great way to share the importance of Rare Disease Day with your community. Plan a bake sale, a raffle or a silent auction. There are tons of ways to get started, so don’t be afraid to try something new.

We want you to know that you can still participate in Rare Disease Day, even if you choose not to share it with your community. Coping with infertility is extremely personal, so it’s more than understandable to not want to share it with everyone you know. If you’d like to make today just for you and your partner, that’s fine, too! Just reading this article already makes a difference, so it’s okay if you plan on just taking time for yourself.

Thinking of You

We know that the road to coping with infertility is exhausting. You’ve faced many obstacles to get to this point and you feel unsure of your next steps. Don’t forget that American Surrogacy is always here to support intended parents in their family-building journey. No matter what day it is, we can help make your parenthood dreams come true.