Single gay man adopts baby with Down’s syndrome after she was rejected 20 times
Luca Trapanese adopted Alba after she was abandoned by her mother
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A single, gay man has become a hero in everyone’s eyes after adopting a child with Down’s syndrome after she was rejected 20 times by other families.
Luca Trapanese, from Naples, Italy, always longed to be a father and since the age of 14, he has volunteered helping those with special needs.
While training in a Catholic seminary around the age of 25, Luca fell in love with another man and the two spent 11 years together.
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They founded their own charity to help people with disabilities and Luca says they spoke about adopting a child of their own.
Sadly, their relationship ended and Luca moved into a house by himself but knew he wanted to become a father but in Italy it was impossible.
In Italy, social services don’t usually grant custody to single, gay men but when Luca first set eyes on 13-days-old Alba, he knew she was the one.
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Alba was given up for adoption by her mother because she has Down’s syndrome and another 20 families also rejected her due to her condition.
But luckily, Luca – who was told he could only adopt a child with health or behavioural problems – went through a lengthy process to become Alba’s father.
He told Bored Panda: “When I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with joy. I felt she was my daughter straight away.
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“Since I was 14 years old, I have volunteered and worked with the disabled, so I felt I had the right knowledge and experience to do it.”
When he was paired with Alba, he was at first frightened to hold a newborn baby and organised a party to introduce her to friends and family.
He continued: “My two mothers did end up telling me I was holding her the wrong way and even now they keep finding something to criticize me about.
“They’re two amazing grandmothers and they’re very caring, they love looking after Alba and I’m glad they’re both in our lives.”
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