A man born with a rare disease that affects facial development has revealed the heartbreaking reality of people with different faces.
Jono Lancaster told how his parents, who abandoned him at birth, rejected him a second time after meeting him as an adult. The 38-year-old has Treacher Collins Syndrome, an inherited condition that means the bones and tissues in his face grow at different rates.
Jono’s biological parents abandoned him in the hospital where he was born in October 1984, when he was just 36 hours old. The infant was placed on social protection. He was later adopted by Jean Lancaster, who raised him.
Growing up, Jono hated coming out because of the cruel treatment he received from classmates and strangers, but now, as a model, author, and inspirational speaker, he’s learned to love what makes him unique.
Sharing about his struggles, he describes how Jean, now 81, has made him the person he is today. The single adoptive mother has been taking care of other disabled children for many years. “She always told me she couldn’t help but smile when she first saw me and felt an instant connection when she held me in her arms,” Jono, from West Yorkshire, said on Mail Online.
He added that he always knew he was adopted growing up, even throwing an annual party on May 18 to celebrate, but when he turned twenty, Jono described himself as “very well positioned in life” and naturally started thinking about his biological parents and eventually decided to find and contact them. After speaking with the post-adoption agency, who could share the file with him, he sent him a letter saying he was available to meet.
“Two weeks later, we received a letter that simply said, ‘On this subject, we do not want any contact, and further attempts will be ignored, and both signed it. There,” he said. “It was painful, but I’m proud to have tried, and with the support around me and the mindset I have, I went on with my life full of love and gratitude for the life they gave me.
The harsh rejection prompted Jono to keep his head up when he knew he had tried, but he said he often felt “angry and hateful” when he looked at himself in the mirror. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, congenital Jono’s disease affects between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 50,000 people in the general population.
In 2019, he founded the charity Love Me, Love My Face. The Foundation helps raise awareness about Treacher Collins and educates young people about living with unique faces to break the stigma. He also gives lectures at school, discussing life with his condition and the impact of hurtful comments and bullying he has been subjected to.
Earlier this year, he also released his first book, Not All Heroes Wear Capes. For the past four years, Jono has campaigned tirelessly to improve the lives of people, especially young people
Source: mirror
