Single dad adopts girl with Down syndrome rejected by 20 families

A young girl’s fortunes have changed after she was rejected first by her mother and then by 20 potential adoptive families.

Luca Trapanese’s journey of adopting baby Alba has gained a lot of attention on the internet. A major reason for this is that it’s pretty rare for social services to allow a single gay man to adopt a child.

Nevertheless, they made an exception in Luca’s case … and we’re so very happy they did.

Luca, a 41-year-old from Italy, wrote a book where he shares his experiences of becoming the dad of Alba, a girl who has Down syndrome, as reported by the BBC.

During a radio interview, Trapanese explained that his case is special because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family.”

In Italy, adoptions for homosexual and single parents have traditionally been a complicated affair.

“I was told that I’d only be given a child with an illness, a severe disability or with behavioral problems,” he told the BBC. “I was absolutely OK with that.”

Luca took in Alba in 2017 when she was only 13 days old. Before him, 20 families had already decided not to adopt her because of her health issues.

“She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfilment. I am proud to be her dad,” he said.

Luca had dedicated a lot of his time to working in various care centers for individuals with special needs. Ever since he was a kid, he dreamed of becoming a dad. His passion for helping others started when he was only 14, after he experienced the loss of his best friend to cancer.

He volunteered for organizations linked to the Catholic church, often helping people critically ill or disabled.

He chose to go ahead with adopting Alba, even though he didn’t have a partner. Now, she lives happily with her dad.

Alba is described by the BBC as a determined little girl who can be pretty stubborn at times. She enjoys playing and dancing a lot, and she really loves being with other people.

“It was the first time I’d held a newborn baby. Before that moment, I had always been scared. But, when I first held Alba, I knew I was ready to be her dad,” he said. “I was overcome with joy. I felt she was my daughter straight away.”

Luca and Alba became super popular a few years ago because of their amazing relationship. Even though some time has passed, fans can still keep up with their lives by checking out Luca’s Instagram, where he has over 320,000 followers.

The couple loves to hang out, and they fill their days with a lot of fun.

The pandemic has definitely changed their lives, but it’s really amazing to see how much they care for each other. They love spending time outdoors, traveling around Italy, painting, hanging out with friends, and just enjoying being together.

We’re sending all our best wishes in the direction of Luca and Alba! Luca is clearly a man with a big heart, and thanks to him this little girl has a bright future ahead of her.

Please share this article if you, too, were touched by what Luca has done.