Father of Bullied Boy With Rare Condition Pleads For Parents to Educate Their Children
Dan Bezzant hopes educating people about Treacher Collins syndrome will get them to treat his son more kindly
‘Destroyed’ Dad Pleads with Parents to Educate Their Kids After Bullied Son with Rare Condition Is Called ‘Monster’
Dan Bezzant hopes educating people about Treacher Collins syndrome will get them to treat his son more kindly
By Jason Hahn | Published on September 19, 2017, 11:24 AM EDT
PHOTO: COURTESY DAN BEZZANT
An Idaho father is calling on parents to educate their children about the effects of bullying after his 7-year-old son, who has a rare condition that disfigured his face, was tormented by classmates. The bullying has become so severe that the second-grader has even spoken about suicide.
Dan Bezzant says that while school administrators have done their best to stop the bullying, it hasn’t been enough. In frustration and heartbreak, Bezzant took to Facebook on September 14 after hearing that older kids had called his son, Jackson, a “monster” during breakfast at school.
“I just broke down, sitting in my car and crying my eyes out, not knowing what to do. I wrote the post as a plea for parents to educate their children and be aware of this issue,” says Bezzant, 42, of Idaho Falls, Idaho. “It was a desperate moment, and I couldn’t even go in the house. This has been going on for a while, and it’s been an accumulation of things that just destroyed me—it still chokes me up.”
Jackson has Treacher Collins syndrome, a condition that affects the development of bones and tissues in the face. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, those with the condition may have notches in their lower eyelids, downward-slanting eyes, and hearing or vision loss due to developmental abnormalities. Treacher Collins syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 50,000 people.
In his Facebook post, Bezzant described how Jackson is frequently called “ugly” and a “freak” by classmates, and even had rocks thrown at him. The constant bullying has led Jackson, who turns 8 on September 28, to talk about suicide.
“Jackson has expressed those feelings before, and in the last few months, he has said it a few times,” Bezzant says. “That’s what broke me down the most. He shouldn’t have to feel that way—no one should have to feel that way just because they’re different.”
School officials have done their best to keep Jackson safe, Bezzant says, but parents also need to take responsibility. Teachers and aides cannot watch Jackson every moment of the day, and much of the bullying happens when adults aren’t looking.
“I just want parents to take a lead role,” he says. “They need to sit their children down and teach them that we’re all created equal and that everybody is different. We need to approach this with love and understanding.”
Bezzant’s emotional post has gained widespread attention, with more than 41,000 shares and 14,000 likes. Many people have reached out, offering to be Jackson’s friend. Jono Lancaster, a well-known figure in the Treacher Collins community, has even offered to visit Jackson’s school and speak with students.
While Bezzant is grateful for the support, he emphasizes that the issue extends beyond Treacher Collins syndrome. “Bullying is a huge issue, and it needs to stop,” he says. “No one should have to feel like they want to kill themselves because they’re not like everybody else. It’s horrific, and I don’t want anyone to experience that.”
Despite the hardship, there is hope for Jackson. He has been invited to participate in local events and has even been named the guest of honor at several anti-bullying rallies.
On Sunday night, during a FaceTime call with his father, Jackson asked, “Dad, I’m famous, aren’t I?”
It seems Jackson is realizing he isn’t so alone after all.
