A girl whose mother gave her up because she had Down’s syndrome has been adopted by a single dad after 20 families rejected her.

Luca Trapanese, 41, from Naples, said his daughter Alba brought immediate ‘joy’ to his life when he adopted her at 13 days old.

The Italian national was desperate to become a dad but was aware that social services in his country don’t usually grant custody to single gay men.

He claims they told him that he would only be able to adopt a child with special needs or behavioural issues because of his homosexuality.

But this did not deter Luca, who has volunteered and worked with people with disabilities since his teens.

He told Bored Panda: ‘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.

‘She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfillment. I am proud to be her dad. I wanted her to be my daughter.’

Luca spent his teens visiting his best friend Diego in hospital, helping him with his homework as he battled terminal cancer.

He says this inspired him to dedicate his life to helping others.

He said: ‘Diego’s death left me with a profound awareness of what living with an illness meant, that’s why I started volunteering with a church in Naples to help critically ill people and kids with disabilities’.

After his friend passed away, Luca and his then partner founded a charity to help people with disabilities.

The pair were together for 11 years and spoke of adopting, but the relationship broke down before they could become dads.

Luca  said: ‘Unfortunately a few years ago we broke up. I moved into a house by myself and it was really challenging because I still wanted to become a father, but at the time in Italy it wasn’t possible for a single parent to adopt.

‘Then things changed and at the beginning of 2017 I was able to apply for adoption, I was told I would only be given a child with problems.’

He wrote on his application form that he was happy to adopt a child regardless of their health conditions and was paired with Alba in July.

The 41-year-old, who has published a book on his life with Alba, revealed she has a strong personality and loves being around people.

He has been hailed as an ‘inspiration to man kind’ for the unconditional love he has for his daughter.

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