Our upbringing often times dictates where we go in life, and those with difficult pasts have the chance to use their tribulations to help others and do something wonderful. Jono Lancaster was abandoned by his parents when he was just 36 hours old after doctors diagnosed him with a rare genetic disorder called Treacher Collins syndrome. The disorder results in ““typical physical features include downward-slanting eyes, micrognathia (a small lower jaw), conductive hearing loss, underdeveloped zygoma, drooping part of the lateral lower eyelids, and malformed or absent ears.” (Wikipedia).
As a child, Lancaster often faced ridicule and suffered from depression. “I was desperate to have friends, I’d do anything. I had no confidence. I’d buy lots of sweets and give them to the other kids so that they’d like me,” he reflected during an interview with BBC. He often engaged in harmful behavior that left him with a bad reputation among his peers and their parents. Doctors often asked whether he’d like to undergo corrective surgery, but he declined and now, he’s using his disability and tough childhood as a way of reaching other people – both those with and without Treacher Collins syndrome – to stress the importance of loving yourself just as you are.
He recently embarked on a North American tour to raise awareness about Treacher Collins syndrome and offer an inspiring message to anyone willing to listen. “As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to be proud of the way I look,” Lancaster said in a video made for YouTube. “I love the way I look and I love being me.”
Lancaster has most recently been spotted at he National Championship between Clemson and Alabama and on January 26th, tweeted that one of the high schools he spoke at had invited him to this year’s prom.
