Dad adopts girl with Down syndrome who was rejected by 20 families
Long before I became a mother I attended a lunch-and-learn about adoption.
At the time I worked for an amazing social services organization as a Project Manager. They also offered adoption services.
I loved kids. I wanted to learn more. I also wanted lunch.
As I sat there I learned about the insane costs and time that goes into adopting a child.
Story after story of parents fighting for babies. The exhausting and emotional process was laid out for us.
I learned that everyone wanted a baby.
I learned that you needed to have money too. It wasn’t cheap.
I learned it was easier to adopt an older child.
And that very few families wanted siblings.
I also learned that birth parents can change their mind.
I also learned something that has stuck with me for nearly 10 years.
It is free to adopt a baby or child with special needs.
What an odd thing to remember.
At the time I knew nothing of autism or this world. I didn’t even know a parent that had a child with special needs.
But for some reason, foreshadowing I guess, that fact stuck with me all of these years.
Apparently nobody wants a child with special needs.
That fact crosses my mind every now and again.
I will look at my sweet, precious, exhausting boy and I wonder what would have happened to him if he was born to a different family. Someone who didn’t want him.
Who wouldn’t treasure him and love him. Spoil him. Give him the whole entire world.
It makes me physically ill. Cooper would never survive.
Now I don’t know if that fact is still true. It’s been 10 years. But wow.
Today a beautiful story showed up in my newsfeed. One that caught my eye immediately.
Luca Trapanese adopted a beautiful baby with Down Syndrome after she was rejected first by her mother and then by 20 potential adoptive families.
The story of his journey to adopting baby Alba has gone viral for several reasons, paramount of which may be the fact 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 happy they did.
According to the BBC, 41-year-old Italian Luca published a book wherein he recounts his journey to becoming the father of Alba, a girl with Down syndrome.
During a radio interview, Trapanese explained that his case is special because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family.”
In Italy, adoptions for homosexual and single parents have traditionally been a complicated affair.
Luca adopted Alba back in 2017, when she was just 13 days old and had already been passed up on by 20 families because of her condition.
Luca himself had worked in a host of care centers for people with special needs, and always wanted to become a father.
That was why, despite not having a partner, he decided to press forward with the adoption of Alba, who now enjoys a happy home with her father.
This story was just too lovely not to share. You can see the joy in their faces.
Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
