Single dad adopts baby with Down's syndrome after she was rejected by 20 families

'When I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with joy'

A single dad who adopted a baby with Down's syndrome who was rejected by 20 other families said he felt 'straight away' she was his daughter.

Luca Trapanese, from Naples, Italy, adopted Alba at 13 days old after her biological mother gave her up for adoption as a result of her condition, reports the Mirror.

She was then rejected by a further 20 families. But as soon as Luca met her, he said he knew instantly that she was his daughter.

Happily, he was granted custody of her in July 2017 and their lives both changed forever.

He told the BBC in a radio interview: "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.

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"When I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with joy. I felt she was my daughter straight away."

He said it was the first time he had held a newborn baby. "Before that moment, I have always been scared.

"But, when I first held Alba, I knew I was ready to be her dad."

He has acquired more than 130,000 followers on his Instagram feed as he began documenting his daily story of raising Alba alone.

He says she has "revolutionised his life and everything revolves around her" and added: "She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfilment. I am proud to be her dad."

During the interview, he also detailed how the case was so special as it "destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family."

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