A young girl’s fortunes have changed after she was rejected first by her mother and then by 20 potential adoptive families.
The story of Luca Trapanese’s journey to adopting baby Alba has gone viral for several reasons, the biggest being that social services don’t often grant custody to a single, homosexual man.
Nevertheless, they made an exception in Luca’s case — and we’re so very glad they did.
According to the BBC, 41‑year‑old Italian Luca published a book recounting his journey to becoming the father of Alba, a girl with Down syndrome.
During a radio interview, Trapanese explained that his case is unique because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family.” In Italy, adoptions for homosexual and single parents have traditionally been complicated.
“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 adopted Alba in 2017 when she was just 13 days old and had already been passed over by 20 families because of her condition.
“She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfillment. I am proud to be her dad,” he said. Luca had worked in several care centers for people with special needs and had always wanted to become a father. His passion for helping others began at age 14 after losing his best friend to cancer.
He volunteered for organizations linked to the Catholic Church, often helping people who were critically ill or disabled.
That’s why, despite not having a partner, he decided to move forward with adopting Alba, who now enjoys a loving home with her father. According to the BBC, Alba is a determined young child who can be stubborn at times. She loves to play, dance, and be around 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.”
It has now been a few years since Luca and Alba went viral for their beautiful bond. Fans can still follow their journey and daily life on Luca’s Instagram — he has more than 320,000 followers.
The pair loves spending time together, filling their days with fun. Of course, the pandemic affected their lives, but it’s inspiring to see their loving relationship.
They enjoy being outdoors, traveling around Italy, painting, meeting friends, and simply enjoying each other’s company. We’re sending our best wishes to Luca and Alba. Luca clearly has a big heart, and thanks to him, this little girl has a bright future ahead.
Please share this article if you, too, were touched by what Luca has done.
