Dad Forced to Choose Between Wife and Son Chooses His Son

Did you hear about the Dad who refused to give up his son who was born with Down syndrome, despite his wife abandoning him and the hospital offering to send his child to an orphanage? This man is a real life hero and deserves every bit of the blessings being bestowed on him.

Little baby Leo's mom is Armenian and his dad is from New Zealand. Baby Leo was born in Armenia where babies born with defects and handicapped generally aren't wanted because they're seen to bring shame on the family. His mom didn't even want to look at him or hold him after he was born, something I can't even fathom. How does a woman who's felt life grow within her own body for 40 weeks not even want to acknowledge that life?

Baby Leo was born with Down syndrome and his daddy had a bomb dropped on him. Sam's wife gave him an ultimatum- her or their baby. That's right- this new father had to make a choice between staying in his marriage and giving up his son or keeping his son and walking away from his marriage. Sam picked his boy. What's even worse is that the hospital was on the side of the mom and according to Sam, offered to send baby Leo off to an orphanage.

Leo's mom, Ruzan Badalyan, told ABC News that she did give birth to a baby with Down syndrome and she has left her husband, who has the child, but wouldn't elaborate any further.

Sam had been living in Armenia with his wife. When he made the choice to keep his son, he not only lost his wife, but also his home, friends and her family.

A fundraising page has been created to help this hero dad raise money to care for his son. According to the page, "with little work, no money, resources or family, and now no home, his father Sam wants to return to New Zealand with Leo, where Leo can have a quality of life and acceptance, integration into society that sadly, is not yet possible in Armenia."

If you'd like, you can learn more about baby Leo and make a donation to his dad here.