We gradually change our minds, yet people judge us primarily on our appearance. For example, if a man in a hoodie with tattoos walks next to a police officer, the officer may feel suspicious and request that the man be searched (I witnessed this the other day).
It’s a pessimistic outlook on life, but it’s how most people assess things—our first impression comes from the exterior.
Jono Lancaster had a tough childhood. Despite sharing the same flesh and blood, he was constantly reminded of how nasty some individuals can be by their distinguishing physical qualities.
When Jono Lancaster was born in England in 1985, he stood out from the crowd.
The doctors projected that Jono would never be able to walk or speak to his parents. His parents were so upset by the diagnosis that they neglected him after his birth.
“When I was born, my parents were utterly taken aback. I was released from the hospital after 36 hours. I was able to receive care thanks to social services. Jono described the foster care provider as a woman named Jean at the 2015 Nord Conference.”
Jono was just a day old when his parents abandoned him for adoption. Fortunately for Jono, a kind woman named Jean Lancaster adopted and raised him.
Unlike his parents, Jean immediately connected with him when she picked him up. “When can I take him home?” she inquired straight from the nurse as she turned to face her.
His mother raised Jono with the same care, love, and dedication as any other family member.
Even though Jono was well-raised at home, it was tough for him to grow up in a world where others only saw him for what they thought he was.
When he started school, he became more self-aware of who he was and how he appeared.
“I felt alone and like I was the only one in the world who was like me,” the speaker explained. “Why did I have to end up looking like this?” I questioned. People either win the lotto or become professional footballers, doctors, or attorneys.”
Although the Treacher Collins syndrome does not influence a child’s intelligence, his classmates were more concerned with his physical appearance. They used to avoid him because they feared getting his “illness.”
“I used to keep my mother informed of my dissatisfaction.
Jono had been a warrior since the beginning and would not tolerate rejection based solely on his appearance. Better lessons were taught to him by his loving and dedicated mother.
Jean adopted Jono on May 18, 1990, after his original parents stopped responding to her communications for five years.
“I used to tell other kids that my mom went to the hospital and she looked at all the infants and she chose me, whereas their parents had been stuck with them,” Jono said at the 2015 Nord Conference.
Jono stated his determination to never forget his foster mother in a moving Facebook post from 2015.
“This woman isn’t very tall, but she has the biggest heart I’ve ever encountered. This woman has been a foster parent for 30 years; she cares deeply about so many people and has given so much of herself.”
“Every time a child was moved to a different foster home, this woman grieved because she believed she had failed the child. Despite the fact that she was a single mother in her forties, she accepted me despite not knowing what the future held. This mother adopted me and provided me with a great family in Claire and Stephen. This woman was an angel given to me at the perfect moment.”
“This angel’s name is Jean, after my mother, my idol.”
Jono, as a teen, became rebellious to gain attention and divert attention away from the fundamental issue: his physical traits. He used to bribe people with chocolates and drink a lot of wine.
“I was feeling very alone.”
With his foster mother’s help and affection, Jono decided to change the direction of his life. He became a force for good and used his unusual powers to help others.
Jono, a 37-year-old guy, has dedicated his adult life to TCS. He has also been in charge of a team of adults with autism.
He is now a source of encouragement and hope for parents whose children are also fighting the same struggle, and he advises them to offer their children a happy future.
“My parents still don’t want anything to do with me,” he alleges. “What makes a difference is that my perspective has shifted. […] I would not change anything. My attitude, more than anything else, was crippling. If you have the right mentality, you can do anything.”
Jono met Laura Richardson, his future wife while working as a fitness instructor in 2015.
Unlike most others, they began dating, and Laura embraced him for who he was. She could see his kind, kind, and generous soul, as well as the unique individual he is.
Before meeting Laura, Jono had always planned to start his own family through adoption.
“I’ve always wanted to be a mother. My adoptive mother was amazing, but I never had a father figure, and I wanted one. I long for father-son moments. “I want to do the school run, take my kid to dance, gymnastics, or football – whatever they want,” Jono remarked in 2011.
“It worked extremely well for me, and it’s amazing to give a child a second try. Laura is concerned that she will struggle to care for someone else’s child or that the child will just want to locate its natural parents because she believes she will have the instincts to carry a child. She also really wants our child to be “our” child.
“And I really want to take care of her when she’s pregnant, so she can relax on the couch or I can sprint downstairs at two a.m. if she has a pickle need.”
Laura and I split up after ten years of dating. Jono explained his choice on Instagram, writing:
“Laura and I had ten lovely years together before deciding to split up because our relationship was stagnant. There was nothing but respect between the two people, and it had nothing to do with their physical looks.”
Some of his supporters expressed condolences and asked Jono to focus on the positive.
“Breakups, in my opinion, can never be made to sound positive. “It was tragic,” Jono responded.
Hear Jono, the inspirational beacon, tell his heartwarming story:
