A young girl’s life has taken a remarkable turn after being 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 rarely grant custody to a single, homosexual man.
Yet in Luca’s case, they made an exception — and we’re so grateful they did.
According to the BBC, 41‑year‑old Italian Luca published a book recounting his path to becoming the father of Alba, a little 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, adoption for homosexual and single parents has traditionally been extremely difficult.
“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 rejected by 20 families because of her condition.
“She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfilment. I am proud to be her dad,” he said.
Luca had worked in numerous 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 with organizations connected to the Catholic Church, often helping people who were critically ill or disabled.
That’s why, despite not having a partner, he moved 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 several years since Luca and Alba went viral for their beautiful bond. Fans can still follow their journey and daily life on Luca’s Instagram, where he has more than 320,000 followers.
The pair loves spending time together, filling their days with fun and adventure.
Of course, the pandemic affected their lives, but their loving relationship remains inspiring. They enjoy being outdoors, traveling around Italy, painting, meeting friends, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
We’re sending our warmest 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 moved by what Luca has done.
