We live in a society where success is measured by how far you can get ahead while trying to blend in. If you don’t conform or stand out in some way, you’re often labeled as “odd” or “abnormal.”

It’s a discouraging perspective on life, one that places too much importance on appearances and comparisons to others.

Take Jono Lancaster, for example—a person made of flesh and blood just like everyone else, yet who has often faced the harsh reality of how unkind the world can be.

Jono Lancaster was born in England in October 1985, but he didn’t look like the other babies in the hospital.

The little boy was diagnosed with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare genetic condition that caused his facial bones to develop asymmetrically.

After the diagnosis, doctors informed Jono’s parents that he would likely never walk or speak. The news was overwhelming for his parents, who ultimately abandoned him.

“When I was born, my parents were in total shock. I was out of the hospital 36 hours after I was born. Social services found someone to look after me. The foster carer was a lady called Jean,” Jono shared at the 2015 Nord Conference.

When Jono was less than two days old, his parents gave him up for adoption and vanished. The hospital reached out to Social Services, and a kind woman named Jean Lancaster stepped in to raise him.

Jean wasn’t startled or frightened when she saw the baby. Instead, she immediately bonded with him, picking him up and asking the nurse, “When can I take him home?”

From the very beginning, his foster mother provided the love and care that every child deserves, and Jono couldn’t have asked for a more devoted and loving mom.

However, despite the unwavering support from his mother, Jono’s early years were marked by a lack of understanding from the outside world.

Jono meets with children, offering them hope and support while speaking to their parents about their experiences. He currently works as an inspirational speaker and educator, frequently sharing his story and raising awareness about Treacher Collins syndrome.

“My parents still want nothing to do with me,” he admits. “What’s changed is my attitude, and that’s what’s so powerful. […] I wouldn’t change any of it. My attitude was more disabling than anything. With the right attitude, you can achieve anything.”

One of Jono’s mentees is two-year-old Zackary Walton from Australia.

Despite his young age, Zackary has already faced bullying. But with Jono by his side, Zackary has found a lifelong friend.

According to Jono, any child he fathers has a 50% chance of inheriting Treacher Collins syndrome. The thought of having a child of his own brought about a wave of emotions, moral dilemmas, and self-reflection. While Jono himself was born relatively healthy, many children with Treacher Collins face severe medical challenges, with some even born unable to breathe.

This made Jono consider that adoption might be the best route.

”It worked really well for me, and giving a child a second chance, I think that’s brilliant. But Laura thinks she will have those instincts of really wanting to carry a child, and she’s worried that she might find it hard to look after someone else’s child – or that the child will just want to find its natural parents,” Jono explained. He continued:

”Plus she really wants our child to be ‘our’ child. And I really want to look after her when she is pregnant, for her to be on the sofa, or for me to run downstairs at 2am when she fancies a pickle.”