Disabled baby at the centre of a profile divorce row

The parents of a baby born with Down's syndrome have found themselves in the middle of a highly public divorce row. The story of a father who claims his wife filed for divorce due to fear of the shame the disability would bring on her family, has touched the hearts of millions around the world.

Samuel Forrest shared his story to the world, claiming his wife left him and requested to be divorced just a week after she gave birth to their son Leo. However, Leo's mother eventually spoke out about her husband's claims, telling a significantly different story.

Mr Forrest, who is originally from Auckland, New Zealand, spoke of how when Leo was born, the hospital authorities informed the couple that there was something "seriously wrong" with their baby.

Leo was born in Ms Badalyan's homeland Armenia, where severe disabilities are viewed as an embarrassment to a family's honour.

Samuel Forrest said that when he was told Leo was Down 's syndrome he was "still overcome with joy of becoming a father for the first time".

Mr Forrest spoke of how his wife, Ruzan Badalyan, refused to touch her son, fearing that the baby's disability would bring "shame" on her family because in Armenian culture a child with such a disability brings embarrassment on the family.

A divorce ultimatum?

The father claimed that when their child was born, his wife had given him an ultimatum that unless he gave up their baby she would divorce him.

Mr Forrester told reporters that after he had refused to give up their son, his wife stood by her word and left him. In order to raise enough money to bring up Leo as a single father in his native country of New Zealand, Samuel Forrester then set up an online fundraising page.

The fundraising campaign reportedly received $439,000 within ten days.

A media storm

Following a storm of media interest and compassioned strangers making donations to help Samuel Forrest raise money to bring up his child, Ms Badalyan decided to break her silence.

Talking to The Independent, Ruzan Badalyan claims she had always supported the decision to move Leo to New Zealand, admitting that in Armenia there is "no extensive social infrastructure to help children with developmental disabilities, no governmental support".

Ms Badalyan said that she had hardly had time to recover from the shock when the authorities had told her to make a decision about whether she was going to keep her baby or not.

"I had to make the most ruthless decision in my life within several hours". Ms Badalyan told The Independent.

The mother claims her husband had refused to give her a chance to respond to allegations that she had filed for a divorce because of their Down's syndrome child.

"Sam has never suggested joining him and bringing up the child together in his country, neither did he tell me anything on the day we filed for divorce", said the young mother.

Ruzan Badalyan also says that since the divorce story broke, she has been subjected to abuse on social media.

Meanwhile, donations keep being made to the fundraising page for Leo. Mr Forrest says the money will go towards giving Leo long-term care and to help fund facilities to help support parents of children with disabilities in Armenia.

What are your thoughts about this high-profile divorce case? Who is the victim of the story? Perhaps the real victims are the parents of disabled children in Armenia who are forced to bring up their children against hostile social stigma?

If you have any questions or advice about any element of divorce and family law, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Tracey Miller's friendly and professional team of family law experts.

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