LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A leap year, where the 365-day rotation of the sun becomes 366 days, happens just once every four years, adding one more day to February. 

JaNae Martin of Louisville was born Feb. 29, meaning this week will technically be just the 10th time she has celebrated her birthday in her life.

What You Need To Know

  • A leap year, where the 365-day rotation of the sun becomes 366 days, happens just once every four years

  • This is technically just the 10th time JaNae Martin will celebrate her birthday

  • The next leap year will be 2028 

“It's quite interesting, and it's also exciting," Martin said. "Everyone, I think, has a reason to be special and to stand out. I think that having to 'leap your baby' is just what makes me special.” 

Martin said being a leap year baby makes her birthday festivities more special.

“I went three years without a birthday, and I talk to other leap year peeps, my community," Martin said. "I found that a lot of people, when it's not our birthday, we don't feel like it's our birthday. But when that leap year comes, we celebrate, and we go all out ... it really becomes a very special time.”

Even though her birthday only comes around every four years, Martin said there was one family member who always made sure she felt special each year: her grandmother, Cecelia. 

"She was absolutely one of my best friends, and we lost her to COVID," Martin said. "This will be the first birthday that I don't have my girl her with me, so a hard one. But still, I can celebrate the times that we had."

"This year, turning 40 and having my 10th birthday, it's really, really given me a different outlook on life and the things that are important. I'm excited, and I thank God for this time; I thank God for my family. And so I couldn't imagine a better birthday.” 

Martin said the biggest lesson she has learned from being a leap year baby is to slow down and cherish each moment. The next leap year will be 2028.

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