The mother of a Down Syndrome child who she was accused of abandoning by the father of the baby has reconciled with her estranged husband . Samuel Forrest , from New Zealand , made international headlines in February after he started fundraising to help raise baby Leo . Mr Forrest 's Armenian wife Ruzan Badalyan filed for divorce a week after Leo was born in her home country - where a disability like Down Syndrome is considered shameful - on January 21 . Scroll down for video . New Zealand 's Samuel Forrest and his Armenia wife , Ruzan Badalyan , have reportedly reconciled . The story of Mr Forrest , Ms Badalyan and their son , Leo , has made international headlines after it emerged she filed for divorce a week after the birth of the baby who has Down Syndrome . So far , the Bring Leo Home campaign has raised more than $ 600,000 after celebrities such as U.S. actor Ashton Kutcher lent his fame to the single dad 's cause . In a new twist in the story , it has now emerged Ms Badalyan is applying for permanent residency in New Zealand to give her relationship with Mr Forrest another shot , stuff.co.nz reported . The couple - who are not officially divorced under Armenian law - have their sights sets on moving to Auckland with Leo . 'They want to raise him in New Zealand but it all depends on whether New Zealand Immigration will find it legitimate , ' a person close to the couple told the New Zealand news website . 'Despite all the negative media and emotional struggle , she wanted to go against the cultural norm and embrace the son . But there is a lot of money involved now . ' Since the story of baby Leo emerged , Ms Badalyan has faced harsh criticisms from the public who have slammed her for abandoning her Down Syndrome child . Mr Forrest took up fundraising to try and get his son to New Zealand , and so far the campaign has raised more than $ 600,000 . In the weeks following the intense media scrutiny , Mr Forrest has come to her defence , saying she is one of the 'victims of the social norms in Armenia ' . The couple had been married for 18 months . At the time , Mr Forrest said his wife refused to look at or even touch Leo because in her culture a child with a condition like Leo 's brings shame on the entire family . Neither Mr Forrest nor New Zealand 's Department of Immigration were unable to confirm to stuff.co.nz that Ms Badalyan was seeking residency . When the NZ news outlet spoke to Mr Forrest , he did not want to talk about he and his wife reunited . He said he was 'focussing my efforts on giving my son Leo the best chance possible at life ' . Mr Forrest requested privacy and did not wish to comment further on the matter . In Armenian culture , Leo 's condition is thought to bring shame to the family . Ms Badalyan 's abandonment of her child has drawn worldwide criticism and backlash . It is now thought she is applying for residency in New Zealand , where her husband was born . Earlier this month , it was also revealed Mr Forrest was part of religious group , the Exclusive Brethren , while he was married to his first wife , Kylie Forrest . He claimed he was then ex-communicated from the church and banned from seeing his four children with Ms Forrest . Reports claimed one of these children had Down Syndrome as well . But Ms Forrest has since come out and denied these allegations , saying their youngest child had suffered complications due to a premature birth , the New Zealand Herald reported . A former neighbour said Mr Forrest , who is still in Armenia , had also been fined $ 530 for assaulting his first father-in-law . It has also emerged Ms Badalyan 's husband also has four other children from his first marriage . Mr Forrest claims he was ex-communicated from the Exclusive Brethren church after divorcing Kylie Forrest . There were also reported one of his four children with Ms Forrest had Down Syndrome , but she has since denied these allegations .
Samuel Forrest claims his ex - wife lost their Down Syndrome baby . He spends more than $ 600,000 to bring Leo home to his native New Zealand . But , butler 's estranged Armenian butler wants to rekindle their marriage . It is now reported that butler is applying for permanent Zealand residency .