FATHER FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HIS WIFE AND HIS DOWN SYNDROME NEWBORN BECAUSE HER FAMILY ARE ‘TOO ASHAMED’ OF THE BABY’S CONDITION TO RAISE IT AS THEIR OWN
The Daily Mail, UK
Feb 6 2015
Samuel Forrest’s wife Ruzan Badalyan gave birth to their first child
Leo on January 21 in an Armenian hospital His mother quickly abandoned
him after learning he had Down syndrome The young mother feared his
condition would bring shame on her family She made Samuel choose
between her and their newborn son Samuel was handed divorce papers
a week after Leo was born First-time father is trying to crowd fund
money so he can raise Leo in his native New Zealand Fundraising page
has raised more than $100,000 in less than 24 hours
By Emily Crane for Daily Mail Australia
A heartbroken father has been made to choose between his wife and
his Down syndrome son because her family are too ashamed of the
newborn’s condition.
Samuel Forrest’s wife Ruzan Badalyan gave birth to their first child
Leo on January 21 in an Armenian hospital.
But just hours after the birth, Leo’s New Zealand born father was
given an ultimatum by his wife of 18 months – the woman he loved or
his newborn son.
Leo’s mother and her family abandoned him soon after he was born due
to his Down syndrome.
She refused to look at or even touch her son because Armenian culture
believes a child with a condition like Leo’s brings shame on the
entire family, according to Samuel.
When Leo was born, Samuel said he wasn’t immediately allowed to see
his son or wife.
‘This paediatrician walks out of the room with a little bundle… She
had his face covered up and hospital authorities wouldn’t let me see
him or my wife,’ he told ABC News.
‘When the doctor came out, he said “there’s a real problem with
your son”.’
When he carried Leo in to meet his wife, she threatened to leave him
if he kept his son.
‘What happens when a baby like this is born here, they will tell you
that you don’t have to keep them,’ he told ABC News.
‘My wife had already decided, so all of this was done behind my back.’
Samuel’s wife filed for divorce a week later.
The first-time father is now desperately trying to crowd fund to flee
the eastern European country so he can raise Leo back in his native
New Zealand.
The fundraising page, titled Bring Leo Home, has already raised more
than $100,000 in less than 24 hours.
Samuel has been left stunned by the outpouring of support.
‘Leo and I found out in the wee hours of the morning that we had
crossed our target. He is a lucky guy to have the support of thousands
of friends around the world,’ he said.
The money will be used find a house in Auckland and to give Leo
education opportunities.
Samuel also plans to use some of the funds to support parents in
Armenia who are raising children with disabilities.
‘We’d also like to share the surplus funds with the only orphanage
in Armenia that regularly takes abandoned Down syndrome babies as
well as other organisations that can help these children,’ he said.
The initial goal for Samuel and Leo was to raise enough for a year
so he could get part-time work and care for his son.
To make a donation to Leo’s cause, visit: