A single dad who adopted a baby with Down's Syndrome after she was rejected by 20 families says he felt she was his daughter 'straight away'.
Luca Trapanese, from Naples in Italy, adopted daughter Alba when she was just 13 days old after she was given up for adoption by her biological mother because of her condition.
After she was abandoned by her mother, she was then rejected by more than 20 families.
As soon as Luca met her, he knew she was his daughter straight away.
In July 2017, he was granted custody of the vulnerable girl and Alba’s life changed forever.
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Luca told the BBC : “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.”
“When I first held her in my arms, I was overcome with joy. I felt she was my daughter straight away.
"It was the first time I held a newborn baby. Before that moment, I have always been scared. But, when I first held Alba, I knew I was ready to be her dad.”
Luca recently started documenting his journey raising his daughter and has already amassed more than 130,000 followers on Instagram .
He says the child has "revolutionised his life and everything revolves around her" and added: "She brought me happiness and a sense of fulfilment. I am proud to be her dad."
During the radio interview he also explained that his case is special because it “destroys stereotypes about fatherhood, religion and family.”
