We live in a society where success is measured by how far you can get ahead while trying to blend in. If you don’t conform or stand out in some way, you’re often labeled as “odd” or “abnormal.”
It’s a discouraging perspective on life, one that places too much importance on appearances and comparisons to others.
Take Jono Lancaster, for example—a person made of flesh and blood just like everyone else, yet who has often faced the harsh reality of how unkind the world can be.
Jono Lancaster was born in England in October 1985, but he didn’t look like the other babies in the hospital.
The little boy was diagnosed with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic condition that caused his facial bones to develop asymmetrically.
After the diagnosis, doctors informed Jono’s parents that he would likely never walk or speak. The news was overwhelming for his parents, who ultimately abandoned him.
“When I was born, my parents were in total shock. I was out of the hospital 36 hours after I was born. Social services found someone to look after me. The foster carer was a lady called Jean,” Jono shared at the 2015 Nord Conference.
When Jono was less than two days old, his parents gave him up for adoption and vanished. The hospital reached out to Social Services, and a kind woman named Jean Lancaster stepped in to raise him.
Jean wasn’t startled or frightened when she saw the baby. Instead, she immediately bonded with him, picking him up and asking the nurse, “When can I take him home?”
From the very beginning, his foster mother provided the love and care that every child deserves, and Jono couldn’t have asked for a more devoted and loving mom.
However, despite the unwavering support from his mother, Jono’s early years were marked by a lack of understanding from the outside world.
When Jono started school, he became more aware of himself and quickly realized that he looked different from his classmates.
“I kind of felt like I was on my own and I felt like I was the only one out in the world that was like me. People are lucky enough to win the lottery or they become professional footballers, doctors, lawyers but I thought, ‘Why did I have to end up looking like this?’” Jono shared in an interview with Adelaide Now.
It’s important to note that Treacher Collins syndrome doesn’t affect a child’s intelligence in any way. What mattered most to Jono’s classmates, however, was his appearance. They would often run away from him and make faces, saying they didn’t want to “catch his disease.”
“I used to hide how unhappy I was from my mom. She had already done so much for me,” Jono shared in an interview with the BBC.
Despite the challenges, Jono refused to give up or let the negativity from others define him, and he had the support of a remarkable woman by his side.
Jono’s foster mother, Jean, made efforts to reconnect him with his biological parents. However, after her letters were returned for five consecutive years, she decided to take the next step and officially adopted Jono on May 18, 1990.
“So I get two birthdays! I used to tell other kids that my mom went to the hospital and she looked at all the babies and she chose me, whereas their parents had been stuck with them,” Jono shared at the 2015 Nord Conference.
Jono will always cherish his foster mom, something he made clear in a heartfelt Facebook post from 2015.
”This lady may be a little short in height, but this lady has the biggest heart out of every one I’ve ever met. This lady has been a foster carer for 30 years, she loves and has given herself to so many. This lady cried every time a child moved onto another foster home as she felt somehow she had failed them. This lady despite been a single mom in her 40’s took me on despite not knowing what the future held. This lady adopted me and along with Claire and Stephen gave me an amazing family. This lady is an angel, sent to me when I needed one the most.
This angel’s name is Jean, my mum, my hero.”
As a teenager, Jono became increasingly rebellious. At times, he would act out just to get attention, using it as a way to distract others from his physical appearance. He drank heavily and even tried bribing people with sweets in an effort to make them like him.
“I was feeling so alone.”
However, with the love and support of Jean, along with his own inner strength, Jono eventually decided to turn his life around and use his experiences to make a positive impact on others.
Now 36, Jono dedicates his life to helping people with Treacher Collins syndrome worldwide. He also works as a team leader for adults with autism.