Couple Sees Their Newborn’s Face and Abandons Him — Over 20 Years Later, They Reject Him Again

• A man was abandoned as a child after his parents saw his face.
• Years later, he mustered the courage to connect with them again and hopefully turn things around.
• His parents were cold-hearted – they rejected him again and refused to get in touch.

Being born with a genetic condition that altered his facial appearance was beyond a man's control. However, it was enough reason for his parents to abandon him as a baby.

Jono Lancaster was born with Treacher-Collins Syndrome, a condition that prevented facial bones and tissues from developing. Only a day and a half after being born, his parents abandoned him at the hospital, and he immediately joined the foster care system.

Jono Found Family After Two Weeks

Social services soon found him a loving home, and his adoptive mother, Jean, has fully supported him through the years. He also had a good set of friends who helped him build a successful life despite his hardships.

Jean adopted Jono when he was only two weeks old. Jean, 81, is a single mother who previously adopted children with disabilities.

When Jean first met Jono, she said she felt an instant connection. She couldn't help but smile upon seeing Jono as a baby, and when she held him for the first time, she knew they were destined to become family.

Jean adopted Jono legally when he was five, six years after being introduced. She ensured his good health, taking him to doctors' appointments through the years.

Each year, they celebrate May 18 – the day Jean officially adopted Jono. It's a day that makes Jono feel chosen. "My parents chose me. Your mom and dad got stuck with you, but mine chose me," he'd tell his friends proudly.

Growing up, Jono never felt alone. He had other adoptive siblings; their house was always full of life and chaos. To him, there was no better way to grow up.

At school, Jono had a lot of friends. He credited it to his being a "people pleaser," a trait he later realized he was doing for the wrong reasons. Given his condition, he used to believe he needed to pay people back for choosing to befriend him.

Eventually, his true friends assured him he could be himself and didn't need to do anything to feel accepted. He's glad to have found good friends, especially after years of torment during secondary school.

People made fun of his appearance, pulling their eyes down before him. Although he acknowledged being bullied, he didn't let it bother him and focused on his friends instead.

It was in his teenage years, however, that he began to feel angry. His friends were getting girlfriends, yet he couldn't bring himself to be in a relationship.

"I came to hate my face, and I blamed it on all the things that went wrong in my life," he admitted. His coping strategies became unhealthy, and he started focusing on his body.

Jono became very particular with his diet, fitness routine, and tanning beds. To him, if a girl will ever want to date him, he needs to give them a reason to.

Jono hated looking at his face until he was in his early 20s. He found a job at a local club and genuinely enjoyed working behind the bar.

While working there, Jono experienced something he thought was impossible – his co-worker asked him out, and he just happened to have a crush on that co-worker.

They began to date, and his girlfriend said during one of their hangouts: "I just love your face." He's never heard that before from anyone other than his mom.

It filled him with confidence he never had before, and from feeling ugly, he suddenly felt sexy. Although their relationship didn't work out, it was a lightbulb moment for Jono. He started to look at his face in a more positive light.

When he took a job at a local gym, Jono still tried to avoid looking at his face most of the time. However, one day, while admiring a pair of trainers he bought himself, he suddenly saw himself staring at his face.

He noticed his blue eyes, and it made him smile, and he suddenly saw the dimple on his cheek, which he never noticed before.

"I was smiling like a Cheshire cat, and I just realized that I love my face. I found more things about me that I love," he said of his experience.

Jono Was Rejected a Second Time

With his new-found confidence, Jono was in a good place. He wanted to reach out to his biological parents to assure them he was okay and would love to meet them.

He approached his adoption agency, who shared with him all his records. It was a painful revelation to him, as the words used in his forms noted how his parents were "horrified" by his face.

Despite this, he still wanted to connect with them, so he composed a letter to send to his biological parents. He sent the letter with the support of his adoptive mom and his friends. He got a response two weeks later that said:

"Regarding this subject, we do not want any contact and further attempts will be ignored."

What stung most for Jono was that both his parents had signed the letter. Despite the outcome, he was proud to have reached out, leaving no room for "what if's."

Jono moved on with his life, grateful for the love he felt from all those around him, and still grateful to his biological parents who gave birth to him.

Jono works as a motivational speaker. He has met with people from all walks of life and has visited several countries worldwide to share his story.

Aside from his speaking engagements, Jono started the "Love Me Love My Face Foundation," a charity that raises awareness for Treacher-Collins syndrome and other craniofacial conditions. He's also published a book titled "Not All Heroes Wear Capes," which narrates his experiences and how he's learned to embrace his life for the way it is.

Jono is still determining what the future holds for him and what he will do next. What he knows for sure, however, is that wherever the road takes him, he will keep living his life to the fullest.

Abandonment is one of the most painful things a person can experience in a lifetime. In a similar heartbreaking story, a man abandoned his wife at the hospital after seeing his newborn child. Click here to read all about it.