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

Doting father Luca Trapanese said he felt little Alba was his daughter 'straight away' after she was rejected by over 20 families.

A single dad adopted an adorable baby with Down's Syndrome after she was rejected by over 20 families.

Doting father Luca Trapanese said he felt little Alba was his daughter 'straight away' when he first held her when she was only 13 days old.

But Alba didn't have the easiest start to life, according to The Mirror .

Her own mother abandoned her because she was diagnosed with the condition before facing a cycle of rejection.

It all changed in July 2017 when Luca was granted custody and the pair embarked on their life together as father and daughter.

Luca, from Naples in Italy, told the BBC  :“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 I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with joy. I felt she was my daughter straight away.

"It was the first time I 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.”

Luca recently started documenting his journey raising his daughter and has already amassed more than 130,000 followers on Instagram .

He says the child 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 radio interview he also explained that his case is special because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family.”