When Samuel Forrest first held his newborn son in his arms, the future suddenly looked very different from the one he had imagined.
His son, Leo, had been born in Armenia on January 21, 2015. Shortly after the birth, doctors told the family that Leo had Down syndrome.
For Samuel, a New Zealander then living in Armenia with his Armenian wife, Ruzan Badalyan, the diagnosis came as a shock.
But when he finally saw his baby, Samuel later recalled that his uncertainty disappeared.
He looked at his son and saw exactly that: his son.
Not a diagnosis.
Not a burden.
Not a child whose life had less value because it might unfold differently.
According to Samuel's account to ABC News, he looked at Leo and immediately decided that he would keep and raise him.
That decision would eventually turn a deeply private family crisis into an international story, attract donations from thousands of strangers, spark an uncomfortable debate about disability and institutionalization, and lead to something few people following the original headlines expected.
The family eventually came back together.
But understanding how that happened requires looking beyond the simplified version of the story that initially traveled around the world.
The Day Everything Changed
Samuel and Ruzan had been expecting the birth of their son with excitement.
Then Leo arrived.
According to ABC News, Samuel said doctors informed him that his newborn had Down syndrome before he was able to properly see and hold him.
Samuel later described experiencing a few moments of shock.
Then he met Leo.
When Samuel finally held his son, he said he thought the baby was beautiful and that there was no question in his mind that he wanted to raise him.
But the situation surrounding the new parents was complicated.
In Armenia at the time, children born with disabilities could face strong social stigma, and institutionalization remained a reality for some families. Parents might receive frightening or deeply pessimistic descriptions of what life with a disabled child would mean.
Samuel said he was presented with the possibility that Leo could be placed in an institution.
He refused.
What happened between Samuel and Ruzan immediately afterward became the most controversial part of the story.
Samuel told ABC News that Ruzan gave him an ultimatum: if he kept Leo, their marriage would end.
Ruzan later disputed that version of events.
In a public statement reported by ABC News and Armenian media, she described herself as being under enormous emotional pressure following the birth. She said the Down syndrome diagnosis had been presented to her almost like a devastating verdict and that she was struggling with stress and depression.
She also denied that the situation was as simple as telling Samuel to choose between her and their child.
That distinction matters.
The first wave of international coverage largely presented a straightforward story: a heroic father chose his disabled baby while the mother walked away.
Reality was more complicated.
Samuel Makes His Choice
Whatever disagreements existed between the parents about exactly how their separation happened, one fact was clear.
Samuel was determined to raise Leo.
He began planning to leave Armenia and return to his native New Zealand, where he believed Leo would have access to greater support and opportunities.
At that moment, Samuel expected that he might have to do it alone.
The practical reality was daunting.
Raising any newborn requires enormous amounts of time, energy and money. Raising a child who may need additional medical care, developmental support and therapy can create further demands.
Samuel wanted the opportunity to spend his son's first year focused on caring for him.
So he turned to crowdfunding.
The campaign was called "Bring Leo Home."
Samuel initially hoped to raise about $60,000 to help him return to New Zealand and spend time as Leo's full-time caregiver.
Then something extraordinary happened.
The story exploded.
Thousands of Strangers Respond
News organizations around the world picked up Samuel and Leo's story.