http://abc7.com/family/wife-leaves-husband-who-refused-to-give-up-newborn-son-with-down-syndrome/506319/
After a new father refused to give up his newborn son, born with Down syndrome, the mother has left both of them. Now the father needs a lot of help. (Courtesy ABC News/Samuel Forrest)
Updated 1 hr 7 mins ago
After a new father refused to give up his newborn son, born with Down syndrome, the mother left both of them. Now the father needs a lot of help.
According to ABC News, Samuel Forrest of Armenia was waiting outside of his wife's hospital room as she was giving birth when he first heard his newborn son's cries.
"This pediatrician walks out of the room with a little bundle -- that was Leo," Forrest said. "She had his face covered up and hospital authorities wouldn't let me see him or my wife. When the doctor came out, he said 'there's a real problem with your son.'
After a new father refused to give up his newborn son, born with Down syndrome, the mother has left both of them. Now the father needs a lot of help. Courtesy ABC News/Samuel Forrest
Forrest was told that Leo was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Despite initial shock, Forrest was not deterred from loving his son.
When Forrest walked back into his wife's hospital room, Leo in his arms, his wife gave him an ultimatum: if he chose to keep the baby, she would divorce him.
Despite his wife's warnings, Forrest decided he wanted to keep Leo. One week later, Leo's mother filed for divorce.
Forrest says he plans to move back to his native New Zealand where he will receive loving support from family there.
Though this plan has one small hitch: Forrest is not that well off alone, and now he needs to provide for two.
Forrest is asking for donations to his GoFundMe page, which has already raised nearly $30,000 in nine days - but that's only half of what he estimates he'll need.
"The goal is to raise enough for a year so I can get a part-time job so Leo doesn't have to be in daycare and I can help care for him. He's lost a lot in two weeks, Forrest told ABC News. "It'd be different if he had his mommy."
