DADADEL
Jono Lancaster, an abandoned baby, because he was born with a genetic disorder, became a successful model 27 years later. We are talking about Jono, a man who embraced his unique beauty. He encourages others to love themselves, especially the ones with the same syndrome as him.
An abandoned baby by his biological parents because of a genetic disorder.
Jono Lancaster was born with a genetic disorder. He has an underdeveloped jaw and no cheekbones. He has Treacher Collins syndrome, which leads to head and face malformations. It is a rare condition that occurs in 1 in 50,000.
His parents abandoned him 36 hours after his birth. It is not only difficult to be born with a genetic disorder but hearing about your parents leaving you behind, too. Such a traumatic event impacted little Jono.
His adoptive mother is his biggest supporter.
Jono was taken in his adoptive mother’s arms, Momma Jean, who raised and loved him despite his appearance. She legally adopted him when he was 5, but she took him in when Jono was 2 weeks old.
“She did a fantastic job protecting me. She’s always told me that the first time she saw me, she couldn’t help but smile,” said Jono, recalling when he first met his adoptive mother.
He posts many loving messages toward his adoptive mother on his Instagram profile. He never felt lonely because of her. “All you need is love, a mother’s kind of superhero love!”
“With as much tact as possible, she told me that my parents couldn’t cope […] As I got older and could understand things better, she said they ’just struggled to accept that I was different.’,” said Jono.
Jono’s journey to self-acceptance.
He has always struggled to accept his appearance. In high school, he remembers his peers’ misconceptions. “I was exposed to kids who hadn’t known me before. They hadn’t met anybody with facial features like mine. They’d pull down their eyes, fold up their ears,” said Jono.
He harbored resentment toward his biological parents. However, he learned to deal with it when he turned 20. He began a journey of healing, growth, and self-acceptance.
He became more confident when he kissed a woman. “I went from thinking that I was unlovable to feeling like the most attractive in the world. She said, ’I love your face.’”
Jono’s purpose is to encourage other people with his syndrome.
He learned about his biological parents’ abandonment when he was 25. “These 2 people were supposed to love you, but they were not able to bond with you,” Jono recalls telling himself.
He sent a letter to them in 2009 for a second chance to know him. Sadly, they did not want any contact with him.
Jono wants to be an example for all people with the same syndrome as him. He wants to encourage them to develop self-confidence. He also works as a model and accepts himself for who he is. He says: “I look at my face, and instead of wanting to push my eyes up, I smiled.”
“They brought me into this world. I need to live the life that they gave me. It’s been a long journey to get where I am. But I’m in a place of happiness and joy,” says Jono.
What do you think about Jono’s journey as an abandoned baby? Isn’t he tough for going through all that? What is something that you would say to him if he was in front of you? Tell us in the comments below.
