EXCLUSIVE
An Australian tradie who fought to stop his daughter being adopted out in the US has shared a heartwarming update as his little girl visits him for the first time Down Under.
Carpenter Dan Gaut, from Sydney, won hearts worldwide in February when he rallied to raise funds to travel to the US to collect his newborn daughter.
His pregnant American girlfriend Liv Pavlov suddenly returned to the US without him, where she rekindled a relationship with a former partner then announced she would be putting up the baby for adoption.
Mr Gaut begged her to give the baby to him to raise in Australia, and she initially agreed, but reneged the offer once baby Ana Rose arrived in March, with the former couple since agreeing to share custody and raise their daughter across both countries.
On Thursday, Mr Gaut revealed his little nine-month-old girl had made her first trip to Australia to spend time with him.
‘My heart is overflowing having my sweet lil angel come visit,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Mr Gaut posted photos online showing the pair enjoying trips to the beach, paddle boarding on a river, visiting national parks, and playing with kids toys.
Many fans and friends congratulated the proud dad on his joyous news.
Dan Gaut has been reunited with his daughter as she makes her first trip Down Under
Baby Ana Rose and her father are pictured playing with toys during her time in Australia
‘This warms my heart! She’s a spitting image of you,’ one person wrote.
Another said: ‘So happy you’ve been reconnected with your mini; she’s adorable!’
‘Hope you share many more moments together…daughters need their dadas!’
‘Oh my gosh Dan, absolute perfection,’ someone else said.
‘So happy for you and your baby girl!!!’
Ms Pavlov also excitedly shared details about the trip on her social media.
‘Sweet nature baby Ana Rose is loving her holiday to Australia so far!’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘She slept nearly 12 hrs of the 15 hr flight and has been paddle boarding, kayaking, hiked a waterfall, visited Crystal castle, and been to the beach almost every day!
‘She loves the nature and the animals and the water. So thankful for the harmony on this visit and that it can happen before the year is over. Miracles are real.
‘I love you baby Ana Rose and I trust your plan the plan of your soul, even when I don’t understand.’
Ms Pavlov, who accompanied baby Ana to Australia, also shared photos of her and the couple’s daughter site seeing and exploring the wilderness around NSW,
Mr Gaut met his ex while holidaying in San Francisco in early 2023, before she followed him back to Australia and their whirlwind romance began.
But things changed when she became pregnant. Liv started feeling homesick, and planned a quick trip to Texas to be with her support network.
However, she opted to remain in the US and told Mr Gaut she and their unborn baby were never coming back, and she wanted to have their child adopted at birth.
Mr Gaut travelled to Austin, Texas , to meet newborn Ana Rose but bringing her back to Australia did not go as planned. He is pictured with Ms Pavlov and Ana
Ms Pavlov (pictured) and Mr Gaut have since decided to share custody of their daughter, who will split her time between the US and Australia
A crowd funding page set up by Mr Gaut’s friends raised more than $35,000 to help him make a mercy dash to the United States to collect his daughter after Ms Pavlov agreed to legally hand her over if he flew over to be with her during or shortly after the birth.
But when he arrived, she had a change of heart and decided she wanted to keep and raise baby Ana in the United States.
‘I feel heartbroken and empty as I’m forced to leave America alone,’ Mr Gaut revealed in an emotional Instagram post at the time.
However, speaking to Daily Mail Australia in April, Ms Tavlov said she had only floated the idea of adoption because the pair could not agree on their unborn child’s future.
‘A friend of mine had miscarried and she wanted nothing more than to be a mother,’ said Ms Pavlov at the time.
‘At the time we were not on the same page on how to effectively raise her once she arrived, so I suggested maybe giving her to a loving family would be a better option.
The pair have been making the most of the Australia’s beautiful beaches, rivers and national parks during their time together
The happy dad posed with his little girl and dog as they visited a nature reserve
The proud dad recently took Ana to a park, where he helped the nine-month-old drink from a bubbler
‘There were no formal enquiries with adoption agencies – and we never made an agreement for him to have sole custodial rights either.’
The saga came to a happy resolution just weeks after the birth as the former couple after Ms Pavlov revealed she wanted Mr Gaut to be a major part of Ana’s life and share custody of their daughter.
‘Well the tides are always changing and I’m happy to announce that baby Ana Rose is so loved by both her mama and her daddy Daniel Gaut,’ Ms Pavlov wrote on social media in April.
‘After five weeks here in America daddy Daniel has gone home for a bit while we regroup and work out our shared custody agreement so that we can have flow in our life this next chapter.’
