Naples-native Luca Trapanese had always dreamed of becoming a father, despite the restrictions that he faced due to being a gay, single man in Italy.
Finding inspiration in his childhood best friend Diego, who passed away from terminal cancer when they were teens, Luca devoted his life to working with people with disabilities, and in July of 2017, his prayers of becoming a father were answered. That’s when he met Alba.
He'd Always Wanted To Be A Father
Before meeting Alba, Luca was in a long-term relationship for over a decade, and he & his partner frequently talked about their desire to adopt, and specifically to adopt a child with disabilities.
The pair even started their own charity for working with people with disabilities. However, after their relationship ended, Luca was faced with the challenge of adopting as a single, gay man in Italy, which simply wasn't allowed. Italian social services told Luca that single parents weren't allowed to adopt.
His Dreams Became More Attainable
At the beginning of 2017, Luca's dream of becoming a father became more attainable when the rules were changed and single parents would be allowed to adopt in Italy. The caveat was that single parents would only be allowed to adopt children with disabilities or severe illnesses, but that didn't deter Luca because that's exactly what he wanted.
Due to all of his experience working with differently-abled people, Luca was uniquely qualified to become a parent to a child with disabilities.
Six Months Later, His Dreams Became A Reality
After months of waiting, Luca finally received the call he'd been wishing for in July of 2017. He received a call from social services saying they had a baby girl named Alba and they were wondering if he was interested.
Alba was 30 days old at the time and had been abandoned by her mother because she had Down Syndrome. More than 20 families had already been contacted and rejected Alba, but Luca said in an interview he "immediately said yes."
Their First Meeting
Luca rushed to the hospital after getting the call so he could meet his new daughter Alba. He has said that upon meeting her he was overcome with joy, and that he felt a connection to her straight away.
In one interview Luca revealed that "before that moment, I have always been scared but when I first held Alba, I knew I was ready to be her dad."
Happily Ever After
Luca and Alba have now been father and daughter for two years, and Luca says that Alba "completely revolutionized my life." Everything revolves around Alba, and "she brought [him] happiness and a sense of fulfillment."
Luca says that thanks to Alba, he understands his purpose in life and he cannot wait to be able to spend the rest of his life with a child he loves and watch her grow up.
