30 People Share The Rare Things That Make Them Statistical Anomalies

Everyone has something about them that makes them unique, but some people take it to a whole new level.

In a viral Reddit thread, u/yadayadayadarv asked people to share the quirks, traits, and life experiences that make them statistical anomalies.

It’s a fascinating look at just how weird and wonderful people can be.

From rare genetic traits to incredible coincidences—these stories range from hilariously odd to genuinely surprising.

They’re the kind of stories that make you pause and think, “What are the chances?”

Keep going for a collection of moments that prove truth really is stranger than fiction.

#1.

Woman wearing polka dot scarf, reflecting and praying, symbolizing hope and recovery. — Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels

I’m an 18 month survivor of Stage 3 pancreatic cancer and currently in complete remission.

#2.

prison cells — Photo by Carles Rabada on Unsplash

I’m not part of the 77% of felons that went back to prison within 3 years of getting out. 7.5 years and going strong.

#3.

I lost 110 lbs, it’s been 20 years now and I’ve not gained any back.

#4.

According to my grandma I’m the smartest young man alive.

#5.

man wearing maroon, white, and blue stripe long-sleeved shirt lifting up baby wearing gray onesie — Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash

I am born on the same date as my dad and great grandpa.

#6.

I was one of the few Romanian orphans to receive a good life.

#7.

I was cured of Stage 3b lung cancer.

#8.

I’m allergic to the chemical released when fresh oranges are peeled. That first spray when you open an orange will put me into anaphylactic shock. Super specific, super rare when the allergy is that severe. Bad oranges.

#9.

I can fold a fitted sheet.

#10.

a woman with bright red hair is posing for a picture — Photo by Dynamic Wang on Unsplash

I’m an Asian and also a natural ginger.

#11.

Survived premature birth without any defects.
Edit: For all those wondering I was born 4 months early at 1 pound 6 ounces.

#12.

I have sickle cell anemia.
My skin is white.
I’ve had doctors ask me ‘are you sure you have sickle cell? Want to be retested?’ This has happened 6 times that I remember. I’ve never seen my mom angrier lol.

#13.

I actually had an allergic reaction to a vaccine as a kid. I passed out and stopped breathing. I almost died. I had a speech impediment as a kid that was probably a result of lack of oxygen to my brain during the incident. True allergic reactions like this are one in a million.
I couldn’t finish my vaccines and can’t get boosters shots because the chance of another reaction is higher than the chance of me actually contracting anything we vaccinate against. Or it was, until we starting losing our herd immunity. If I had kids I’d still vaccinate them.

#14.

grayscale photography of a new born baby — Photo by Alex Hockett on Unsplash

My mother was born with an upside-down uterus. They told her it would be impossible to have a child. I was born with my umbilical cord wrapped three times around my neck, and was presumed dead. Yet here I am with no birth defects- perfectly healthy. I was paraded around the hospital as a miracle child. Having been born in a small town, everyone always told me I was going to grow up to do miraculous things.
I feel as though I uh… have not lived up to the hype.

Edit: wow this really blew up. Thanks for the kind words everyone. Don’t worry I’m a happy guy.
Bonus fact: I actually had a twin brother, but there wasn’t enough food for the both of us. My chances were 50/50 from the get-go. I live my life not only to live up to the expectations set for me, but also for my brother who never got to live his own.

#15.

Being reasonably well-adjusted despite spending years as a foster kid where some of the homes were abusive.

#16.

I’m chimeric, except, I have two twins. I’m walking around with my fraternal twin brothers DNA and identical twin sisters spinal tube next to my spinal tube. I was supposed to be three individuals.

#17.

I found out I had synesthesia the first time I got into an argument about how Wednesday is green.

#18.

I am a leap day baby! Coming up on 6 years old. :).

#19.

I’m naturally a redheaded, blue eyed, left handed human and the only one in my family with those characteristics.

#20.

eat, space station, international space station — Photo by WikiImages on Pixabay

For exactly 2 years, I served as the trashman for the International Space Station.

#21.

I suffered a stillbirth last year… which is sadly not that rare.

But the autopsy discovered the cause was a disseminated herpes infection which I contracted from my partner.

Intrauterine herpes infection is very rare. For it to cause death is very rare. Neither of my two OBs, the perinatologist, nor the pathologist has ever seen a case of it. Not only that, I had no symptoms at all – never experienced an outbreak, had normal CBC, etc. The pathologist could only find cases where the mother also had a disseminated infection which passed to the baby.

My doctor said it’s the medical equivalent of being struck by lightning.

The good news is that this did not put future pregnancies at risk, since this typically only happens during a primary infection. I am now 36 weeks with another baby boy and other than being on preventative acyclovir, they are not concerned for him.

#22.

multicolored illustration — Photo by Joyce Hankins on Unsplash

I’m a colorblind woman. Apparently, it’s 8x rarer in women than in men.

#23.

Hmmm… There are a few things… I have centralized heterochromia, which is a mutation of a mutation… Of a mutation. On top of that, it’s hereditary and not linked to any horrific condition that’s normally linked to hereditary centralized heterochromia.

However, if you want incredibly rare…

My wife is alcohol intolerant. I didn’t learn about it until she recounted a tale about her grandmother trying to calm her down as a baby by putting whiskey on her gums. Yeah, she calmed down alright… Then her face turned blue and she wasn’t breathing. This anomaly is rather rare. But what makes this crazy? My dad is allergic to alcohol, which is very similar but just as rare! Not just grain alcohol, he’s allergic to isopropyl as well. He can’t even have it on his skin for too long, otherwise it will start burning. There was even a malpractice suit because a doctor didn’t believe him when he said he was allergic. Her words were, “It’s not possible to be allergic to alcohol.” I won’t go into details, but the doctor almost fainted and my dad has an insane scar because of it.

#24.

Instead of sweating I just get really really cold when working out. So far no health problems just a cool way to freak out my friends.

#25.

an american flag flying from the top of a building — Photo by Luke Scarpino on Unsplash

I was present the two times the US was attacked on American soil. I lived in Pearl City, Hawaii just outside of Pearl Harbor when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941. I worked in the Pentagon when a missile struck it on 9/11/2001.

Edit: To all those correcting me, yes it was a plane and not a missile. In my very old age I get confused sometimes. When I evacuated the Pentagon as ordered, I could see the part of the plane that was sticking out of the side of the Pentagon. Took me a hell of a long time to get home because of the incredible traffic jam that occurred in the aftermath.

#26.

Benign brain tumor that may have been sitting there my whole life.

My doctors say lots of people could be walking around and not even know it so who knows how rare it is.

#27.

I have a 34th vertebrae in my spine. Normally there is only 33.

#28.

My height. I’m around 6ft, which isn’t that amazing, except that I have just turned 13.

#29.

A person holding a pen and writing on a piece of paper — Photo by Anna Savina on Unsplash

Left handed, dyspraxic and coeliac!

I’m like the unicorn nobody asked for.

#30.

One of my eyes is sectorally heterochromatic. That’s rare enough on its own, but I figure that the color combination and position on the iris makes it absolutely unique on Earth.