Jonathan Lancaster was born with a rare genetic disorder that left him with different facial features and as a result, he was abandoned by his own parents only 36 hours after he came into this world. Nevertheless, despite the rejection and bitter feeling of rejection and heartbreak, Lancaster continues to be grateful to them.
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Jonathan Lancaster is the man who was abandoned by his parents only 36 hours after he came into this world. Yet, the man claims he is still 'forever grateful to them.'
Lancaster was born with a rare genetic disorder called Treacher Collins syndrome, which is characterised by 'distinctive abnormalities of the head and face'.
His birth parents were a married couple in their 20s, and less than two full days after Lancaster was born, the parents signed their rights over him, with adoption records stating they were 'horrified by [his] appearance' and felt no bond with him.
Lancaster is in his 30s now and was adopted at the age of 5 by a woman named Jean who 'never shied away' from difficult conversations and gave him an 'incredible foundation' from which to grow.
In an interview with UNILAD, Lancaster described growing up, dealing with people who would make fun of his looks and girls who would ask him out as a 'dare'.
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He admitted focusing on the words on his adoption papers 'a lot' during angrier periods of his life and wanting to 'hurt [his parents] as much as [he] was hurting' in his darkest days, but looking back he says he respects that his parents made their decision and chose to stick by it.
When Lancaster was in his 20s, he reached a point in life where he wanted to reach out to his birth parents in a letter. The man asked them if they wanted to be contacted, but they gave a cold reply of how they do not wish to be contacted and that further attempts to get in touch would be ignored.
Recalling that feeling, Lancaster says he was heartbroken and he cried and the incident left him feeling 'rejected all over again', but he acknowledged they did what they felt was 'best for them', adding: "I respect that."
He continued: "At the end of the day, I will always come back to those two human beings gave me life and for that I am forever grateful. Every milestone that I have in life, I tend to think about them but I guess the ultimate thing that I want to share with my birth parents is that I am happy, I'm okay and I'm healthy, and I hope you are too."
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Over the years, Lancaster has lived a happy and fulfilling life where he continues his search for things that he enjoys and loves doing and this has led him to build wonderful new relationships and find good opportunities in life.
Lancaster says he loves his face and doesn't want to change it, 'at all'.