Four years ago, Luca Trapanese made a joyful decision that changed his life forever and gave him a sense of fulfillment.
In 2017, the Italian man in his forties gave a little girl the opportunity to have a family by adopting her at the age of 13 days.
Thus, he became the first single father in Italy to be officially authorized to adopt a child.
Before being adopted, Alba had been rejected by 20 families who couldn’t adopt her because of her disability.
Since Luca Trapanese brought her into his life, he has found a new sense of purpose and a life filled with happiness and joy.
The man from Naples openly spoke about his first encounter with the girl,
which happened a few days after her mother abandoned her in the hospital due to her Down syndrome.
The system immediately certified her as adaptable. Trapanese, who had long desired to become a father, had applied for adoption months earlier following a revision of Italian law that previously banned adoption for single parents.
During his application process, he was informed that people like him could only adopt children with disabilities or behavioral disorders.
He wasn’t concerned about the clause and stated in his application that he was willing to accept any child,
regardless of their health conditions. When he finally saw Alba, his excitement knew no bounds.
“It was the first time I held a newborn in my arms. Until that moment, I had always been afraid.
But the moment I touched Alba, I realized I was ready to be her father.”
Trapanese’s act of compassion made him a social media star,
with thousands of fans flocking to his Instagram profile to capture moments of him and his daughter.
When asked about his motivation to reach out to those in need and connect with people with special needs,
the father recalled losing his best friend to cancer when he was fourteen.
After his loss, he began volunteering with groups that assisted individuals with disabilities. In 2007, he started his own organization,
A Ruota Onlus, to provide disabled students with opportunities for socialization and the development of their talents.
He believed that they would be better prepared to assimilate into the community through this approach.
He hoped that more people would learn to embrace children with disabilities, treat them with dignity, and offer them equal opportunities.
While adopting a disabled child is one way to bridge this gap,
prospective parents must evaluate various aspects to decide if they are ready to take on a lifelong commitment.
