A single dad accepts a girl with Down syndrome after 20 other families turned him down.

A little girl’s luck has changed after being turned down by her mother and then by 20 possible foster families.

The story of Luca Trapanese’s journey to adopt baby Alba has gone popular for many reasons, but one of the most important may be that social services don’t usually give custody to a gay man who is single.

They did make an exception for Luca, though… and we’re so glad they did.

The BBC says that 41-year-old Italian Luca wrote a book in which he talks about how he became the father of a girl with Down syndrome named Alba.

Trapanese said on the radio that his case is unique because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion, and family.”

When it comes to Italy, adoptions for gay and single parents have always been tricky.

The man told the BBC, “I was told I would only be given a child who was sick, had a severe disability, or had behavior problems.” “That was fine with me at all.”

Alba was only 13 days old when Luca adopted her in 2017. Before that, 20 families had turned her down because she was sick.

She made me happy and gave me a sense of worth. He said, “I’m proud to be her dad.”

Luca himself had worked in a host of care centers for people with special needs and always wanted to become a father. His passion for helping others started when he was 14, after losing his best friend to cancer.

He volunteered for organizations linked to the Catholic church, often helping people critically ill or disabled.

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.