Parents in divorce row over Down's Syndrome baby which 'brings shame on mum's family'

A TINY baby boy found himself at the centre of a bitter war of words between his own parents today after his mother was accused of abandoning him - because he has Down's Syndrome.

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A row has erupted between baby Leo's parents after the youngster was born with Down's Syndrome
Samuel Forrest claims his wife filed for divorce just a week after baby Leo was born because she feared his disability would bring "shame" on her family.
In a heartbreaking tale, he reveals the moment he was stunned into silence as Ruzan Badalyan told him that he would have to choose between her and his newborn son. 
Instead, the proud dad vowed to bring up the severely disabled boy on his own, with their extraordinary story inspiring strangers to donate more than £200,000 to an online fundraising campaign.
The couple lived together in Miss Badalyan's homeland Armenia, where such a severe physical disability is seen as a huge embarrassment to family honour. 

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The youngster's father says his mother wanted to get rid of the baby after birth, a claim she denies
Now Mr Forrest - a freelance business contractor - wants to take baby Leo back to his native New Zealand where he will have a better quality of life. 
He said: "They took me in to see him and I looked at this guy and I said, he's beautiful - he's perfect and I'm absolutely keeping him.
"What happens when a baby like this is born here, they will tell you that you don’t have to keep them. My wife had already decided, so all of this was done behind my back."
However, in a scathing rebuke today Miss Badalyan said that the pair agreed that Leo should be raised in more progressive New Zealand and accused her ex-husband of twisting the truth. 

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Well wishers have now donated more than £200,000 to a fundraising website supporting Leo

I had to make the most ruthless decision in my life within several hours.

Ruzan Badalyan

She said: "The first thing that came to my mind after the diagnosis was that I don't want my child to live in a country where certain stereotypes dominate the lives of people with DS and no opportunities at all.
"I want him to be involved and well-received in society, an integration that will require years and years for our society to adjust to.
"I saw the evasive looks of the doctors, my relatives' tear-stained faces, received calls of condolences and realised that only a move to a country with such standards as New Zealand would entitle my son to a decent life."
Recalling the moment she awoke in hospital to be told the news of her son's disability, the new mother strongly denied her former partner's claims that the baby would bring "shame" to the family. 
"One can never imagine my feelings at that moment," she said. 
"Hardly had I recovered from the first shock, when the doctor approached me and told me to voice my decision whether I was going to keep Leo or not. I had to make the most ruthless decision in my life within several hours.
"In the hardest moment of my life when my husband should be next to me and support and help to take the right decision, I could not find any support from his side." 
She claims that Mr Forrest then left the hospital, telling her hours later that he would be taking his son with him to New Zealand. 
"Without giving me any option and trying to find with me any solution in this hardest situation, he started to circulate the story on every possible platform without even trying to give me a voice accusing that I put him an ultimatum marriage or the baby, which is absolutely not true.
"I tried several times to communicate but he never tried to listen me and to find common solutions. The only response was the accusation from his part.
"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."

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Baby Leo is now set to travel to New Zealand with his dad after the couple filed for divorce
The young mother has also been bombarded with abuse on social media since the story broke yesterday. 
One person wrote to her, saying: "Cannot believe anyone would do something so terrible to their newborn son and wonderful husband. Absolutely sick."
Another added: "Instead of being his mother and loving Leo you decide to give him away. You are sick."
Meanwhie, donations to a fundraising page for Leo and his father have now topped £200,000, with the money going towards securing long-term care for the youngster and funding facilities in Armenia to support parents with disabled children. 
Reacting today, Mr Forrest tweeted: "Thanks everyone - we are stunned beyond words at the incredible support and love you've shown."
A friend managing the fundraising page added: "He is a lucky guy to have the support of thousands of friends like you around the world.
"Some of the additional funds that we have raised will be used to secure better living conditions in Auckland, and to give Leo higher quality opportunities when it comes to education - a good home and school cost money.
"Leo will have all that and more, thanks to you."

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