Success in today’s world often depends on fitting in and blending in as much as possible. Those who don’t fit in or seem different are often labeled as “abnormal” or “weird.”
It’s a bleak outlook that places an overemphasis on appearance and peer comparison.
Just ask Jon Lancaster, a human being of the same flesh and blood as the rest of us, yet someone who has repeatedly faced the harsh realities of a cruel world.
Born in England in October 1985, Jono Lancaster was distinguished from other newborns by Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare condition that affects the development of facial bones.
Doctors informed Jon’s parents that, with the diagnosis, he might never walk or talk. Jon’s shocked parents decided they couldn’t handle it and left him.
“My parents were really surprised when I was born. I was released from the hospital within 36 hours. Social services have assigned someone to look after me.” In 2015, Jono spoke about his foster father, Jean, at the Nord Conference.
Jon’s parents disappeared, abandoning him before he was even two days old. Social services intervened, and Jono was adopted and raised by a loving woman named Jean Lancaster.
Jean immediately became close to the young man when she saw him for the first time. “When can I take him home?” Jean asked the nurse.
From the very beginning, Jono received all the love and care he needed from his foster mother, Jean, who could not have been a better or better parent.
However, despite his mother’s unwavering support, Jono faced a lack of understanding of the outside world during his early years.
Jono began to understand his differences when he started school. It didn’t take him long to realize that he didn’t look like his classmates.
“I felt like I was the only one in the world who looked like me and I felt alone. “While some people are lucky enough to win the lottery or become doctors, lawyers or professional footballers, I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why did I have to look like this?'” Jono revealed in an interview with Adelaide Now.
It is important to note that Treacher Collins syndrome does not affect a child’s intelligence. However, all Jon’s classmates seemed to be interested in was his appearance. They would grimace and run away when he came near, fearing that they might pick up on his “condition”.
“I used to hide how unhappy I was from my mom,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “She’s already done so much for me.”
But Jono had an amazing wife by his side and he wasn’t going to give up or let the haters win.
Jean, Jon’s foster mother, tried to reunite him with his biological parents. But on May 18, 1990, she took the next step and officially adopted Jono after they answered her letters for five consecutive years.
“So I have two birthdays!” Jono exclaimed at the Nord conference in 2015. “I was telling the other kids that when the parents were stuck with them, my mom went to the hospital, looked at all the babies and chose me.”
In a heartfelt Facebook post in 2015, Jono expressed his gratitude to his foster mother.
“This woman has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met, despite her small stature. She spent thirty years caring for foster children; she is incredibly loving and selfless. She felt like she had failed them in some way and would cry every time a foster child went to a new home. This woman, a 40-year-old single mother, accepted me even though she had no idea what was in store for her. When she adopted me, along with Claire and Stephen, she gave me an amazing family. This woman is a true angel who came into my life just when I needed her.”
Jono Lancaster on Facebook
Her name is Jean and she is not only my mother but also my hero.
Jono became a rebellious teenager. Sometimes he did things just to get attention, trying to take the focus off his physical appearance, which was the real problem. He tried to win people over with jokes and a lot of alcohol.
“I felt like I was alone.”
But thanks to Jean’s love and care, as well as his own strong spirit, Jono quickly decided to turn his experiences into a force for good.
At the age of 36, Jono has dedicated his life to supporting others around the world who have Treacher Collins Syndrome. Leads teams for adults with autism.
He meets the children, gives them encouragement and hope, and talks to their parents about their condition. Currently, Jono works as a motivational speaker and often talks about Treacher Collins Syndrome.
“My parents still want nothing to do with me,” he says. “My mindset has changed and that’s what makes it so effective. […] I wouldn’t change anything. Above all, my mindset was paralyzed. If you have the right mindset, you can achieve anything.”
Australian two-year-old Zackary Walton is one of Jono’s mentors.
Despite his youth, Zackary has already experienced bullying. But in Jon he found a friend for life.
“When he said he was coming to Australia we knew we had to meet him and it was so nice to see Zack meet someone like him,” Sarah Walton, the boy’s mother, told Adelaide Now.
This photo was shared on Facebook when Jono and Zackary first linked up in November 2014 and it’s truly beautiful.
Wife of Jono Lancaster
Jono met Laura Richardson in 2015 when he was working as a fitness instructor.
After falling in love, Laura accepted Jono for who he was. They set out to make everyone around them laugh and feel good.
Before he met Laura, Jono always believed that if he ever had children and wanted to start a family, he would adopt her.
“Being a father has always been my dream. I long for those moments of bonding between father and son. Despite having an amazing adoptive mother, I never had a father figure growing up, and I really miss that,” Jono told the BBC in 2011. “I want to take my child to dance, gymnastics, soccer or running to school – whatever they jelly.”
Any child Jono fathers has a fifty percent chance of being born with Treacher Collins. Therefore, the very thought of one’s own child evoked a series of emotions, ethical dilemmas and introspection.
“That’s why I think adoption could be the best option,” reasoned Jono. “It was fulfilling and I think it’s wonderful to give a child another chance.” However, Laura feels a strong desire to experience pregnancy herself and worries whether she will bond with a child who may want to find her biological parents, or whether it will be difficult for her to care for someone else’s child,” added Jono.
She also really wants our child to be ‘our’ child. And when she gets pregnant, I really want to be the one to come downstairs at two in the morning when she wants a pickle or sit on the couch with her.
Unfortunately, Jono and Laura never started a family. After ten years together, they decided to go their separate ways. Jono took to Instagram to explain their decision, saying:
“After ten amazing years together, Laura and I decided to separate because we weren’t growing as a couple. There was only mutual respect, and it had nothing to do with appearance.
Some of his supporters expressed their condolences and tried to find something better, assuring Jon that the breakup could still have a happy ending.
“I don’t think interruptions can sound good. It was devastating,” Jono replied.
Watch the video below to hear Jono share his story. I promise it won’t leave you indifferent.
Source: YouTube/LadbibleTV
Despite the tragic aspects of Jono’s journey, it is incredibly inspiring to witness his courage and resilience as he uses it to support other children facing similar challenges.
I hope that sharing Jon’s story can raise awareness and not only inspire others, but also provide confidence and hope to those who need it, because everyone needs a little motivation every now and then.
No one should ever have to face discrimination, harassment or judgment based on their appearance! If you agree, share this article!
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education