The story of a single gay adopting a baby with Down syndrome rejected by 20 families | World

In November, the 41-year-old Italian published the book Nata per te, written in partnership with Luca Mercadante, on his fathering experience.

Check out his testimony in an interview for the BBC's Outlook radio show:

At the age of 14, my best friend, Diego, discovered that I had a terminal cancer. When he told me, I decided to never part with him.

I accompanied him to the hospital and I was always there when he needed me.

I would have done everything for him and I stayed with him throughout this painful experience, until the end.

Diego's death left me with a deep awareness of what it means to live with an illness.

That's why I volunteered at a church in Naples to help seriously ill people and disabled children.

It was a wonderful experience that allowed me to meet many people who became friends for life.

This period led Luca to realize what he wanted to do with life: help people in need. And the best way to do it was to become a Catholic priest:

I entered the seminary at age 25. I spent two years there, before meeting a man and falling in love with him.

Leaving the seminar was not difficult for me. My friends and family were very understanding.

My partner and I spent 11 years together and it was the most beautiful love story of my life.

Together we founded our own charity in Naples for people with disabilities.

Through his founding, Luca has forged close ties with many people, who have become what he calls his "extended family". One of them is Francesco, the son of a retired teacher, Florinda – and they officially became his family.

Francesco is two years younger than me and mentally handicapped. We quickly became friends. He is full of life, enjoys going to the theater, reading news and is very affectionate.

One day, Florinda asked me if I could help her. She was worried about what would happen to Francesco after his death, since there was no other parent to watch him.

She asked if she could adopt me for Francesco to have a brother.

At first, I hesitated, fearing that my biological parents would believe that I was cheating on them. But when I spoke with them, they immediately gave me permission.

We went to court and I now have two mothers. Francesco was with us. He understood what was happening and at the same time began to treat me as a family, at the starting point or at another time, to go home without warning, to speak.

My partner and I have always talked about adoption and we agreed that it would be a disabled child.

Unfortunately, our relationship ended a few years ago and I moved to live alone.

It was very difficult because I still wanted to be a father, but in Italy, single parents could not yet adopt.

Later, things changed and in early 2017, I was able to apply as an adopter.

It was said that I would be introduced only to children suffering from illness, severe disabilities or behavioral problems – a child who had been rejected by all traditional families.

I was completely in agreement.

From my personal experience, I knew that I had the resources to handle the problems of the child.

In July 2017, they called me and told me that they had a daughter for me, that she called Alba and that she was n & rsquo; Was only 13 days old.

I had Down syndrome. She was abandoned by her mother at birth and rejected by more than 20 families.

It was hard to contain my joy. I said yes right now.

I ran to the hospital to look for her. She was alone in a little cradle.

When I held her in my arms, I was filled with joy. I felt at that moment that she was my daughter. That I was ready to be his father.

At first, I wanted to be alone with her. I did not want my mothers to tell me what I should or should not do.

So I took her to my family's country house to build relationships with her and these were our greatest moments.

Later, I organized a party to introduce my extended family. All my parents were there, as well as my charity friends.

Alba is 18 months old. She has a very strong personality and is sometimes very stubborn. He likes to play and dance all day.

She likes to be with other people. So I take her to stroll through the parks, museums or work with me, what she likes.

Alba completely revolutionized my life. Now, everything revolves around her.

It brought me happiness and a feeling of fullness.

I am proud to be his father. She has never been my second choice. I really wanted her

I now see a future in which I will spend the rest of my life with a girl I love and we will do many wonderful things together.