My two week old daughter went into seizures during my birthday party so we had to stop and take her to the hospital during the middle of it. It didn’t seem to be that bad at first but, little did we know, that she had an undiagnosed genetic metabolic disorder that started shutting down her young brain as soon as her built-up supply of a critical enzyme ran out. She went into a coma that night and never came out. She died 5 weeks later.
The worst thing that happened to me on a birthday was my favorite cat ever died on my 28th. That sucked, but obviously not as much as having a human loved one die!
40th. Then wife forgot till after dinner. Brought me a boxed cake mix with Happy Birthday written on it. Went out the next day and bought a new table saw for a birthday present.
I think you “won”. I’m so sorry about your little one. 
My ex-husband told me he was no longer in love with me and hadn’t loved me for 18 months. Happy birthday Peedin
Probably the one when I was in high school. I threw a party and nobody came.
Probably my 18th. That’s drinking age in the UK, but that wasn’t the reason, it’s another downer one folks.
A friend I worked with when I was 16 was a week younger than me. We’d started hanging out outside work, and in retrospect, I think we both had crushes on each other, but I could already easily pass for 18 and he looked about 14, so we got funny looks together, which made it a bit awkward. The day after my 17th, for which I’d sneaked into a nightclub and had an awesome party, we made plans to have a joint 18th, when he’d finally be able to go out and drink. We’d picked the venue. Shortlisted friends. Was gonna be great!
On his 17th, 6 days later, he had fatal heart failure. Turned out the reason he was so small and looked so young was a serious heart condition (diagnosed years ago), which was stunting his growth. I’d had no idea.
I went to the venue we’d picked for my solo 18th, and all I could think of was how utterly unfair it was that he wasn’t there. None of the friends I went there with knew him (I lost touch with the few mutual friends we had after he died), so everyone just all thought I was being weird and a pathetic downer being all mopey when I should have been having a friggin’ awesome time.
A few days before my 12th birthday, my mother collapsed in the kitchen after we had left for school. Fortunately my littlest brother, who was 5, was home and was able to catch my dad in the driveway before he left for work. She turned out to have spinal meningitis and was in the ICU for a while (I don’t remember how long, but I seem to recall it was at least a week). Everyone was pretty sure she was going to die.
Anyway, we had to cancel my party that weekend. Instead, my dad took me to the hospital where we lied about my age (saying I was 14) so I would be allowed to see my Mom in the ICU. She was barely conscious, but I held her hand and cried.
Worst birthday ever!
Fortunately, she recovered, and 35 years later she is still going strong with no lasting effects.
I’m Christmas Eve, and I concur. I can have a birthday party, but I can’t have it on my birthday, and friends who may not see each other often use it as an opportunity to exchange their holiday gifts. It seems ridiculous (especially at 40 years old) to insist it’s my party and they should cut that shit out.
For worst, though, I’m going to have to go with my 21st. I was living on a friend’s couch because I’d had a fight with my parents a few weeks earlier, and most of my friends didn’t know where I was to call and wish me a happy birthday. My friend’s 5-year-old son tried to put my contacts in and lost them both. My parents did call me, but I ended up getting a lecture for something-or-other. I went out to buy myself a legal bottle of something, only to find out that just about every ATM in the state was offline, so I couldn’t pay for anything. Then the boyfriend I’d broken up with three weeks earlier called me to say “Merry Christmas” and ask if I wanted a present.
In my life, some 8-10 birthdays have just been forgotten: 3-4 teen years, a few in my twenties & thirties & now I just don’t care.
On my birthday, I’ll make something happen. Maybe it’s whiskey & cigars, maybe it’s a casino, maybe fishing, maybe finding an empty track to drive fast, or maybe even renting a gun at range and making my hands smell like firecrackers.
I’ve learned that it’s my birthday and if I want something to happen, it’s all on me.
Heh me too. You left out a few other things:
- When you’re single, all of your friends are not and have plans.
- Have fun going out to a bar and trying to talk to women who are single and have no other plans on Valentine’s Day.
- In a relationship? Congratulations, your Birthday is now about their Valentine’s Day.
- You are getting no Valentine’s Day presents, just Birthday / Valentine’s Day presents.
- There’s exactly one combination Birthday / Valentine’s Day card, and it goes like this: “I’m glad you’re the only one I know who has a Birthday on Valentine’s Day. <open> These heart-shaped Birthday cards are so hard to find!”
JFK died on my 9th birthday. Because of finances and many kids we only got to have a birthday party every third year. It was my year…and I had to call all the invited kids myself and tell them the party was canceled.
I know, small in the scheme of things, but a big deal for me at the time.
Having a B-day around Christmas means that your friends avoid you because “they are busy with the holidays,” and then regift you with presents they didn’t want.
My sister who lives in California sent me a framed photo of the George Washington Bridge for one B-day. I live 15 minutes from the damn thing, and can go see it anytime I want.
My birthday was often the first day of school. Nobody is interested in birthdays on the first day of school, and who want’s to start school on their birthday?
The worst, however, was just before I got married. I went for a job interview after work, then out for a drink with a friend who worked at that company. I was later than expected (not very late, but few hours after my normal after work arrival time). My fiancee (now wife of 17 years) had planned dinner and had gotten me some sort of gift.
I didn’t get dinner (it was in the bin), nor the gift. She still hasn’t told me what the gift was.
She had been told of my plans, but had forgotten. Somehow this was my fault.
As a result of all of the above, my birthday is just another day. Move along. Make me a pie (pie is better than cake in every way) if you want to do something nice.
And you’re still with this woman because…
Someone else’s birthday party.
He invited about 40 people, all supposed to be good friends and their extended circle.
Three of us showed up. My wife and I, and one other of his friends.
Of course, this was a guy whose fiance (wife at time of party) had walked in on him getting a BJ during a game convention - from one of their best friends, and who had a bad history of cheating and being a violent douchebag. Who, when it came time for my wife and I to divorce, tried to project his entire history upon ME and cast me that great a villain. :rolleyes:
That’s my wife’s birthday as well. She would certainly agree with all of your points, Morbo. Nice guy that I am I do try to have separate cards and gifts for each portion of the special day but, as I’m not very sentimental myself (I forget my own birthday sometimes), I quite often flub it. Luckily she loves me and accepts my little foibles and only throws it back in my face on special occasions! 
Looks like we had the same thing happen to us, and I probably should have kept my post just as short and sweet as yours. Nothing like a good birthday dumping!
This is a terrible way to win the thread. Birthday or no birthday, this is a tragic thing. My heart goes out to you, wherever you are.
Wow, I’m surprised at how many people’s marriages ended on their birthday!
My worst: 33. Wife left me. (I thought I was the only one)
When I told one of my friends a couple of weeks later, he just stood there shocked, shaking his head and said “Wow, that’s some BAD karma for her.”
I got the dog though, so,… 