Gabriela and Fábio were both 28 years old and had been living together for three years when something no one saw coming happened.
She has Down syndrome; he has an intellectual disability. They met at an APAE school in Brazil and believed that sex between them was forbidden.
One day, during an ordinary conversation, Fábio remarked that Gabriela’s belly “was kicking”. A friend grew suspicious and sought out her mother. At the hospital, they confirmed she was six months pregnant. She had received no prenatal care, and the pregnancy was high-risk because of the possible heart problems associated with Down syndrome.
Valentina was born on March 19, 2008, prematurely and without any disability. Then came another blow: according to the sources, the girl’s birth registration was denied because Fábio’s capacity was called into question.
The couple fought, and the justice system changed its ruling three months later.
They later married, and today they both live in Socorro (São Paulo), raising their daughter with help from their parents.
