Jono Lancaster, 26, has suffered rejection and discrimination his entire life – all because of the way he looks. Born with a rare genetic condition, Treacher-Collins syndrome, Jono has no cheekbones or external ears and has endured years of bullying and countless hospital appointments.
The nature of the condition means that any child Jono fathers will have a 50 per cent chance of contracting Treacher-Collins. Now Jono has an important question he wants answered – what if my baby was born like me?
The film follows Jono and his girlfriend Laura as they go on a quest to find out the options available to them should they decide to start a family. Jono meets a variety of families who have faced or are facing this very conundrum.
He also meets with youngsters affected by Treacher-Collins to see if attitudes have changed since his days at school. Confronted by all the options, what will they decide? And will the decisions they make draw them closer together?
August 27, 2011 at 12:38 pm | Catherine
I was trying to watch this from Germany and was informed that “This video is not available”. Too bad, sounded interesting.
August 27, 2011 at 12:38 pm | Catherine
I was trying to watch this from Germany and was informed that “This video is not available”. Too bad, sounded interesting.
August 27, 2011 at 4:04 pm | sk
same in korea
August 27, 2011 at 9:47 pm | DocumentaryHeaven
Same problem in Canada.
August 27, 2011 at 9:47 pm | DocumentaryHeaven
Same problem in Canada.
August 27, 2011 at 9:47 pm | DocumentaryHeaven
Same problem in Canada.
August 27, 2011 at 10:38 pm | Angela
You can watch it on Youtube! Good show. Hope they are successful, because they seem like good people.
August 27, 2011 at 10:38 pm | Angela
You can watch it on Youtube! Good show. Hope they are successful, because they seem like good people.
August 31, 2011 at 6:41 am | Zack Dean
HOW THE FUCK IS HIS GIRLFRIEND SO HOT? THIS IS HORSESHIT!
September 3, 2011 at 6:40 pm | Guest
WOMEN LIKE LOSERS, LOLOL
December 30, 2011 at 4:39 am | Synapse13
Are you saying that women like you? Somehow I doubt that despite your claims. It might be the fact that she likes who he is as a person; love isn’t just based on looks (unless you’re a completely shallow, selfish POS.) I suggest trying to grow up.
August 31, 2011 at 6:41 am | Zack Dean
HOW THE FUCK IS HIS GIRLFRIEND SO HOT? THIS IS HORSESHIT!
August 31, 2011 at 7:01 am | Zack Dean
I reaaally hope they decide not to conceive. Not because of the genetic disorder, but because they’re both idiots and shouldn’t be raising kids.
September 6, 2011 at 1:10 am | Bubba
Zack just put a sock in it. Who made you the eugenics authority? Perhaps we should screen embryos for assholes..
September 6, 2011 at 1:12 am | Bubba
And oh yes.. people from Missouri. Most backward state ever!
September 6, 2011 at 1:12 am | Bubba
And oh yes.. people from Missouri. Most backward state ever!
September 15, 2011 at 5:18 am | Zack Dean
Right. Everyone should just be able to do whatever they want; we cannot judge.
Cut the crap, “Bubba”… when two stupid people get together and raise kids, they make bad decisions and they end up screwing their kids up horribly. Then I, as a tax paying citizen, end up paying for them when they become guests of the state, or when they end up crapping out a kid of their own at 15 and have to start up the welfare, or whatever.
But again, we cannot judge.
October 20, 2011 at 2:21 am | Bobdf339
they are from a different country, fucktard
October 20, 2011 at 2:21 am | Bobdf339
they are from a different country, fucktard
December 30, 2011 at 4:47 am | Synapse13
That sounds like 99% of the “normal” folks out there. How do you know that this couple would not be good parents? I have seen many disabled couples with children (often normal healthy kids) who do fine and have perfectly healthy families. they sometimes need some help and support but it works.
You are judging.
August 31, 2011 at 7:06 pm | Guest
Nope, cannot watch it either – be it here or youtube.
August 31, 2011 at 7:06 pm | Guest
Nope, cannot watch it either – be it here or youtube.
August 31, 2011 at 7:06 pm | Guest
Nope, cannot watch it either – be it here or youtube.
September 1, 2011 at 3:00 am | Rosscreuswell
The question isn’t “What if my child is born like me?” The question is, why would you even take that risk with another person’s life when there are tons of kids waiting to be adopted? What a fool.
September 6, 2011 at 1:09 am | Bubba
Just because someone has a condition doesn’t mean they should “just adopt” – it’s not for everyone.
September 6, 2011 at 1:09 am | Bubba
Just because someone has a condition doesn’t mean they should “just adopt” – it’s not for everyone.
September 6, 2011 at 1:09 am | Bubba
Just because someone has a condition doesn’t mean they should “just adopt” – it’s not for everyone.
September 6, 2011 at 1:09 am | Bubba
Just because someone has a condition doesn’t mean they should “just adopt” – it’s not for everyone.
September 1, 2011 at 8:16 am | guest
God why are people so judgmental, everyone is different and has the right to live their life the way they want.
September 1, 2011 at 8:16 am | guest
God why are people so judgmental, everyone is different and has the right to live their life the way they want.
September 3, 2011 at 6:42 pm | Guest
very selfish, just because you don’t mind the deformity does not mean your child will be as accepting of it. Life is difficult in the best of times, why start out with a problem.
September 4, 2011 at 12:20 pm | geust
NATURAL SELECTION
September 4, 2011 at 12:20 pm | geust
NATURAL SELECTION
September 12, 2011 at 7:35 pm | Searchingforwords
I can’t seem to pull this video up
September 30, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Lgrealis
I cannot believe how cruel some of these comment are. Too bad YOU nasty people weren’t weeded out at conception. Laura and Jono are beautiful on the inside. Whether or not they have children is their right. Chances are, affected or not by this horrible defect, their offspring won’t grow up to leave apalling and cowardly comments on Facebook or Documentary Heaven.
October 16, 2011 at 5:01 am | Claire
SUPPORT WHAT YOU’ve BEEN SAID!!
October 16, 2011 at 5:01 am | Claire
SUPPORT WHAT YOU’ve BEEN SAID!!
October 16, 2011 at 5:01 am | Claire
SUPPORT WHAT YOU’ve BEEN SAID!!
October 16, 2011 at 5:01 am | Claire
SUPPORT WHAT YOU’ve BEEN SAID!!
October 23, 2011 at 7:34 am | Communara
So let’s get this straight. Jono and Laura MUST have kids. Laura can’t stand the idea of adopting a baby, and her mother agrees. Laura can’t stand the idea of having to go through the trouble of IVF, so they won’t eliminate the chance of their baby inheriting Treacher-Collins. They saw the lady who passed on HED to her 3rd baby, irresponsibly, and that she was “happy and there was even talk of a 4th child” so therefore they assume they too can be happy!
Therefore, the only real option is to conceive naturally so that they run the risk of a child going through 30+ surgeries, gradually breaking its jaw with a screw apparatus, and being stared at for its whole life. Zack is right – it’s nothing to do with the condition. These people are selfish and totally irresponsible and immature. On the bright side, Laura won’t have to change that dreadful breathing tube, because Jono does all the housework.
January 10, 2012 at 2:33 am | Sylvia22988
that is what I have been saying to myself this whole entire time! I so agree.
November 25, 2011 at 9:33 am | Just A Thought
How ’bout this solution ?? …. Jono was open to adoption. Laura wanted the experience of pregnancy. So…. what about having a baby through the use of an anonymous (but health screened) sperm donor. That way, Laura has the experience of pregnancy, … they both have the experience of having ‘their child’ together,… and Jono legally adopts the child. I mean,… a child being one’s OWN child can have nothing to do with biology. And Jono was open to adoption from the beginning, having been adopted himself. It still would be a life that they are creating together, as a couple. Makes sense to me.
January 22, 2012 at 6:16 am | Livvy_2000
Thats a rly good idea coz jono cood adopt the child which he was ok with and laura cood experience pregnancy
November 30, 2011 at 12:19 pm | Justi
What a beautiful inspiring man. If half of the worlds people were like him the world would be a much more understanding and tolerant place. Good work Jonno. You are a great human being.
January 20, 2012 at 6:11 pm | Dporsche71
What a lovely and brave lad. He’s been put through hell by other people, for no reason whatsoever. Would his detractors be as courageous? We’re pre-programmed to be afraid of something different as a defence from when we didn’t have any education and the human race had to survive as best it could.
We should know better by now.
February 10, 2012 at 7:17 am | Mercedes Mendez
I have to flip the coin on this. There are people who are completely healthy and have disabled children. You need to look at this and think that healthy people have “unhealthy” children so why can’t “unhealthy” people have healthy children?
When its your child you don’t care what’s wrong with them, they’re your children and you will go to the ends of the earth to help them anyway you can.
February 12, 2012 at 7:33 am | Marley
He’s a very positive, inspiring person and I do hope that they end up having children one way or another some day. Best of luck to both of them!
April 24, 2012 at 1:13 am | Laura
You people need to shut the hell up.
Jono,
I don’t know if you will ever read and see this, but you are a BEAUTIFUL person, inside and out. Don’t listen to ignorant people who say stupid shit because they don’t know any better, keep your head up high.
you are so brave and beautiful!!!!!!!!!
May 5, 2012 at 11:52 pm | Jill
Glad to see people thinking through their choices so thoroughly when planning to start a family and how those choices will affect them and the child down the track. What great parents they will make.
May 6, 2012 at 7:51 pm | Sarah
I think that Jonno is an inspiration to even people without any disabilities/disfigurements. He has never let his disorder hold him back in life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a job, a house and he has a lot of pride in the way that he presents himself. His treacher collins hasn’t gotten in the way of any of his goals and he’s a brilliant guy. I have nothing but admiration for him.