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A L T E R E D B I R T
H C E R T I F I C A T
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# 4505
Charlotte Dear
Wolff of Indiana,
USA
I've only met three others who were born on Leap
Year
Day. A set of twins, a cab driver in NYC
and amazingly
just found out that a coworker is a
Leaper. Turns out
her birth certificate was altered to
March first and has
always been celebrated then by family
but she KNEW
in her heart she was a leaper and held
February 29 as
her true day.
EN: That is just sad. There are too many
Leap Day
Babies forced to celebrate their birth day on an
incorrect
date.
# 5942 Melissa
Smith
of Mississippi, USA
The elderly doctor who delivered me in south
Alabama
considered it bad luck to be born on Leap Day and
tried to falsify my birth certificate.
I'm glad he didn't
succeed!
EN: Me too!
# 2122
Ed Norlander of West
Virginia, USA
I think that people here in WV should protest. I
found
out that if you are born on Feb 29th, the state
makes
you put Feb 28th or Mar 1st on the birth
certificate. I
was born in Chicago, IL, and my birth certificate
says
Feb 29th, even my military ID says Feb 29th. I have
found that some things won't accept the 29th as a
legal date though. That's no fun. I think its great
to
have a "special" day.
EN: Is there someone out there
who can contact
someone in WV about this? We need to find out if
this is still going on.
# 1499
Tammy Martin of North Carolina,
USA
My Dad offered the doctor $200 (in 1972) to put
February 28 on my birth certificate! Of
course,
no deal was made and I was forever stuck
with
Feb. 29 and alot of explaining to do for
the rest
of my life.
# 4928
Laura Woodford of Michigan, USA
When I was born, the hospital put
the wrong birthday
on my birth certificate (March 1), so we
had to have
it changed.
Leap Day Baby 1980
Hi! I am a fellow Leap Year Baby (1980), I love it.
My boss found out the other day and she
said
that her son was almost born on Leap Day
(2000)
and that she had to pick either the 28th
or the
1st if that were to happen. Isn't that
crazy? The
doctors said it screwed up databases and
computer
systems. Have you heard of this?
EN: Yes, I have
heard of this, many times over. It
is a subject we are addressing more than
ever. We
must get the word out that this is being
done. And,
we must get the word out that Leap Day
is going to
keep happening every 4 years so prepare
for it!
# 5842
Deidre Bakoledis
of New York, USA1960
We are a special bunch. I have never met anyone else with
this special birthday. My grandmother really was born on
leap year day as well, but it was changed to March 1. She
said that this option was given to parents in the early 1900's.
My greatgrandmother wanted to know why my mother didn't
change mine and didn't understand why my mom thought
it specail! |
# 1301
John Huffman of Ohio, USA
Yeah I know one friend in particular who
has a Leap Day
b.d. and know of some other friends of
friends. He said
something like his mother's doctor said
she had to choose
either 2/28 or 3/1 for his birth
certificate!
EN: It's amazing how certain
people take it upon themselves
to alter such an important legal
document.
#
5572
Sharon Potts of Texas, USA
I was born on the 29th of February 1956, in Roswell
NM. I
was born in the hospital at Walker Air Force Base.
My mom
has told me she had to send back my birth
certificate because
they put the 28th on it.
# 4728
Deborah Lupi of Florida, USA
I love having a birthday on leap day. My
mother's doctor tried
to get her to change my birth
certificate to February 28, but
she refused. I'm glad she did. It is
special and I'm always
surprised that so many people remember
it.
EN: Oh I'm so glad your Mom
refused! Good goin' Mom!
# 5643
Trudy Martin of South Australia,
Australia
The day I turned 16 and tried to obtain a birth
certificate from
the local Police station, I was told to go home and
ask my
mother what day I was born because there is no 29th
of
February. When I finally got my birth certificate,
it had 29th
March on it!!! I had it rightfully changed to
February 29th.
EN: Wow, what a time! I'm so
glad you were able to get it right!
# 349 Bethany
White of Utah, USA
I was born one minute before March 1st. The doctor
told my
parents that they could put March 1 on my birth
certificate,
but they said no, so I am a Leap Day baby. I'm glad
that they
said no because I think that leap day babies
rock!!!!!!!
# 5616
Zoe Sanders of Florida, USA
My daughter, Zoe, was born on February 29, 2004,
which
ironically was also my due date. At first I did NOT
want a
Leap Day baby, how confusing would that be--when
would
you celebrate her birthday, how old would she really
be,
etc?!? Then after searching the internet and
visiting this
site I thought "You know what, how COOL would that
be
to have a Leap Day Baby?!?!" and so it was. I've
been told
that only 10% of babies are born on their due dates
and
only 06% of babies are born on Leap Day, so add
those
two up to see how unique my baby is! When she was
born,
the hospital was entering her information into their
computer
system to begin processing her birth certificate,
but they
were having problems entering "February 29th". They
had
to call in a technician from somewhere to "fix" the
problem.
So it's all right now. It was odd this past year
though, people
would ask me "When does your daughter turn 1?" and
I'd
reply "Well, we're going to celebrate it on February
28th, but
she doesn't turn 1 until the 29th and since there is
no 29th
this year--I don't know, somewhere between 11:59pm
on the
28th and 12:00 on the 1st I guess." This confused
people,
so I think next year I'll just say "The 29th" and
let them ask
further if they want. Yay for Leap Day babies!! |
Leap
Back Up!
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If you, or someone you know, has an
altered birth certificate, please,
email us! |
Doctors, Nurses and Government
Altering Documents |
Parents Concerned about having a
Leap Year Day Baby |
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John in Ohio, USA
born 1956
I know one friend in particular who has a Leap Day
birthday. He said something like his mother's doctor
said she had to choose either 2/28 or 3/1 for his
birth
certificate! What's is up with that?
Ed
Norlander of West Virginia, USA
born 1952
I think that people here in WV should protest. I
found
out that if you are born on Feb 29th, the state
makes
you put Feb 28th or Mar 1st on the birth
certificate. I
was born in Chicago, IL, and my birth certificate
says
Feb 29th, even my military ID says Feb 29th. I have
found that some things won't accept the 29th as a
legal date though. That's no fun. I think it's great
to
have a "special" day.
2700 Clancy Price
of Colorado, USA
born 2000
Clancy was a week late when we went to the doctor
on Feb.28th. The doctors decided that they needed to
induce labor. The doctor told us that we could
schedule
a time for March 1st since nobody wanted to be
induced
on Leap Day. We said - WAIT A SECOND!! - We think
Leap Day is perfect!! We scheduled to be at the
hospital
at 8am-Leap Day. We didn't make it to that
appointment -
Clancy decided that he wanted to come all on his own
and be a Leap Day baby!! 2:52 am - We can already
see
his unique personality! We want him to be proud of
his
special birthday!
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Nicole Sandford of Indiana, USA
born 1980
My grandfather, Charles Wallace was born on Feb 29,
1920.
His parents didn't want to have to deal with the
whole Leap Day thing so they celebrated on the 28th
and didn't tell him his real birthday until later in
his life.
Gerald I. McKenzie
of Selkirk, Ontario, Canada
born 1936
Mother didn't appreciate me being born on "Leap"
day, and wanted the doctor to change it. Of course
he couldn't, and wouldn't. Its been a lot of fun and
conversational over the years, especially getting
married at 4 1/2 .
Sharon Lyons in
California, USA
born 1956
My mom tried to hold back, but she couldn't!
Rhea Golveo Marsot of Minnesota, USA
born 1976
When my mom was pregnant with me, she was praying
that
I wouldn't be born on Feb. 29 because she thought it
was bad
luck.
Matthew Becker of
Minnesota, USA
born 1976
I was born at two minutes past midnight on Fed.
29th, 1976.
My mother begged the doctor to record the date of
birth as the
28th--she wanted her first born child to have a
normal birthday.
The doctor refused and I am so pleased because I
adore my
birthday...it is by far the best day to have been
born.
Taylor of
Washington, USA
born 1996
Taylor was not due on Leap Day, and Mom insisted she
would not be born that day. An emergency c-section
became necessary and Taylor was born February 29,
1996 (two months early)!
Hannah
Campbell of Indiana, USA
born 2000
I was actually due on Feb. 25, but my mommy told the
doctor she was afraid she would have me on Leap Day.
She went to the hospital in labor on Feb. 28th and
told the nurses she didn't want to have me on Leap
Day. They tried to help her have me before midnight
but I just didn't want to come out yet. Now my
family treats me like a celebrity for being born on
such an unusual day!
# 1633 Katie of
North Dakota, USA
born 1992 at 12:57 am
This is Dawn, writing this for my daughter Katie. As
you may note by her time of birth, I was really
trying to not have a leap year baby! My thoughts
have since changed as I think she is pretty special,
now if I could convince her! She does not like being
called two. There was a boy born at the same
hospital, same year and they ended up at the same
school for two years. I thought that was kind of
neat.
398 Jan J. Terhune
of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
born 1960
I was born the Monday before Mardi Gras (Fat
Tuesday). The doctor who delivered me, Dr. Hindelang
was a member of a Mardi Gras organization and was
boarding the float when he was summoned to the
hospital. My mother insisted that it was a big
mistake and her baby could not be born on Leap Year.
Wrong!!! In addition to my birth story, I went to
grade school and high school with Raimee Marmillion,
(whom I have not seen in years), and she was born on
Leap Year as well.
306 Cathy E.
Dougherty of Florida, USA
born 1956
My mother begged the doctor to make my birthday
February 28, but he just couldn't do that. I'm very
thankful now because I LOVE being a LEAPIE!!!!!!
Also, on my 10th leap year birthday, my daughter was
10 and so was my step-daughter. What are the odds of
that happening? We had a great 10 year celebration!
1354 Estelle
Crawford of Washington, USA
born 1944
I have only meet one other person born on the same
day and year, that person was a twin, but I never
met the twin. My mother wanted the doctors to change
my birth date to
March 1, 1944. Since she felt I was born closer to
March 1
(born at 11:55pm) than February 28, 1944, (and) she
thought
it would be better to change the date. Lucky for me
the doctor refused. I love being a Leap Year Baby.
Every year that doesn't have a Leap Year, my mother
calls me on March 1st and wishes me a happy birthday
and I of course, I remind her, that she is late,
since I was not born in March. |
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Leap
Back Up! |
Check this out...
I received an email that addresses a subject
I think is worth sharing. Below is a copy of that email,
with permission from who sent it to me, and my response is below that. -
Raenell
--------------
Hi! I am a fellow Leap Year Baby (1980), I love it. My boss found out
the other day and she said that her son was
almost born on Leap year (2000) and that she had to pick either the 28th
or the 1st if that were to happen. Isn't that
crazy? The doctors said it screwed up databases and computer
systems. Have you heard of this?
--------------
Oh my! You have just pressed one of my
major Leap Day *Buttons* and I will do my best to keep from staying
on my Leap Day Soap Box for too long. :o) (but be warned - Her
Royal Leapness is passionate about this!)
Yes, I have heard of it. This is
Raenell from Leapyearday.com. There are several members of the
Honor Society
of Leap Day Babies who tell of such stories.
Some tell of the doctor or nurse
suggesting the parent allow them to put the date of Feb 28 or Mar 1
on the birth
certificate, and would give the parent the choice.
Others tell of their parent making the
request to the doctor or nurse to put one of the alternate dates.
Parents of Leap Day Babies have even
shared with us that they are the ones who made the suggestion for
their little
Leaplings birth certificate.
Most of them say their reason is to
protect the child from the problems the date of Feb 29 will bring
into their lives.
I have a list of just a few of the things we Leap Day babies have
gone through. The following was told to us by
members of the Honor Society of Leap Day Babies (HSOLDB):
- There are 2 women in the HSOLDB
who are trying to get their birth certificate corrected from one of
the alternate
dates to February 29, the actual day they were born on.
- There are members who say they
have a birth certificate with February 29 on it, and a drivers
license with one of
the alternate dates. Too many Leap Day Babies let that happen.
Don't take a drivers license with someone else's
birth date on it. It's not right. There is no reason we
can't have the correct date of birth on our drivers license. (The
reasons they give are not acceptable) (Period)
- Some have February 29 on their
birth certificate and were not told they were born on that date
until later in life.
One member said she was 13 when she found out. Another said they
were an adult.
- There are many members of the HSOLDB
with a drivers license that has one of the alternate dates on it.
All
because their government agency, the Department of Motor Vehicles,
doesn't have a computer system that
accounts for this extra day happening.
We don't have to do things like that. This
extra day has been happening every four years (with the exceptions,
of
course) for OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS! Since before JESUS!
It's about time the government agencies,
and everyone else, program their computer programs for Leap Day.
It's
just going to keep happening... every four years. Why do we keep
making it so hard on everyone.
The problem is that people just don't know
what this day is and why it's there. I want to change that.
People have complained about this date and
I understand their complaints. They need to understand though, that
if this extra day doesn't exist, our calendar will be out of balance
with the seasons.
That's why I do what I do. One of my
missions in life is to bring about Leap Year Day Awareness
(LYDA). We
haven't had the proper education on the subject so people see it as
a nuisance instead of something worthy of
celebration.
February 29 is on the calendar for one
reason. To keep the calendar in balance with the seasons so we can
have
the same seasons at the same time each year.
February 29 also has a name. It's called
Leap Day, or Leap Year Day. And it is spelled with lower case
letters.
Well, if Leap Day is the Name of this day, then it deserves to have
the first letters capitalized just like New Years
Day is, and Groundhog Day.
But alas, it's not even on the calendar
anyway! This is another mission that people tease me about
(and that's OK,
I can handle it) February 29 deserves to have the words Leap Day
written in that box. If they can put Groundhog
Day in print, then Leap Day is to be in print also. For if it were
not for that extra day, we wouldn't be able to predict,
with such precision, when to expect that groundhog!
I'm not going to cure any major diseases
on these little missions'O'mine, nor am I going to achieve world
peace.
Accomplishing those things are not my goal. I do this because it
deserves to be done. I think God put the passion
for it in my heart. I'm glad because I'm having fun with it.
I've been asked if I would be this
passionate about it if I were not born on Leap Day. Well, I'll never
know that. I
do know that when I did research on why my birthday wasn't on the
calendar, I found some really interesting facts
about February 29.
I wondered why it doesn't get the
attention it deserves. It's because people don't understand what it
is. So, that's
where I come in. I want to educate the world on why we have this
extra day, February 29, Leap Day.
I have been accused of doing this for
therapy because I don't *get* a birthday and it's been said that I
am just trying
to get attention. Both couldn't be further from the truth. First of
all, I, we Leap Day babies, *get* a birthday. We just
don't always celebrate it ON our birth date. Second, I don't want
the calendar to say Raenell Dawn Day. I want it to
say Leap Year Day.
It's frustrating at times. Mostly though,
I'm really having a lot fun spreading Leap Year Day Awareness. Some
people
just don't get it at all, and others do. The ones that do, make up
for the ones that don't.
I'd like to encourage my fellow Leap Day
babies to call up the elementary schools in your area and offer to
volunteer
to talk about Leap Day to one of their classes this year. I've done
this. It was great fun. When, back in LY1996, I
told a 3rd grade class of 9 year olds that I was 9 too you should
have seen all the little faces looking up at me from
the floor. We had a good time with it.
Education is the key. And no, it's not
rocket science. So just have fun with it. Learn about it for
yourself before you
go into any classrooms. Be ready. There are some pages on our
website that will be very helpful in that area.
You may also contact me if you'd like. I'm
always happy to hear from people, and to help in this area. If
you do
anything, like go into schools, or do something else, to spread Leap
Year Day Awareness, I hope you'll share it
with us.
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LEAPzine
Copyright © 1997 - 2009 The Honor Society of Leap Year Day
Babies
Please send comments by email to
us.
July, 2009
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