His parents abandoned him as a baby because of his appearance. However, Jono Lancaster has become a renowned speaker and activist.
He encourages people around the world to use positivity to combat illness and challenges. He is famous for his Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare condition that affects facial structure and hearing. He told his story at the National Organisation for Rare Diseases (NORD) summit.
Jono Lancaster’s childhood with Treacher Collins syndrome
Jono Lancaster explained how surprised his parents were by his birth. Social services came to look after him and called a potential foster family, Jean. They told her there was a baby abandoned in hospital and she was shocked.
In fact, when Jono was 25, she tried to contact his parents again.
The harassment started when Jono was about seven years old. Children would run away shouting that he had been infected and looking down. The worst incident occurred on a bus. Jono had just had an operation and Jean was taking him to the museum, as he used to go out for fun after a hospital appointment. He noticed a couple in love, which made him smile. But they turned round and started laughing at him.
Horrified parents abandon their newborn baby in hospital: “It’s like a horrible joke”