28-Yr-Old Saves Week-Old Nephew from Foster Care. Shares Story 6 Months Later on American Idol
For those of you that watch American Idol, you may have recognized one of the contestants on the episode that aired March 19.
Marcio Donaldson auditioned for the competition last season and made it to the Hollywood round, but went home after the group performance.
But this year, Marcio came back having learned so much more than he could have ever imagined.
The 28-year-old singer has faced plenty of challenges throughout his life.
“Growing up in the inner city, it was hard,” he said. “It was tough, and a lot of people succumb to the circumstances. So I wanted to be a light for those who don’t believe in dreams or don’t see them being possible or obtainable, you know what I’m saying?”
When he was young, he and his sister were placed into foster care. As a way to cope, Marcio turned to music to give him hope.
He continued to pursue his dreams of singing and went on to compete on American Idol. But soon, he learned his sister was pregnant.
“You know how they say the cycle repeats. It started off with my mother in the system. Then me in the system. And then my sister had a child.”
Due to issues with drugs, his sister could not keep her baby. Police showed up at Donaldson’s door with the baby when he was just one week old.
“The police and the social worker came to my home, they brought him and here was this week-old baby,” he said. “They said, ‘You have 10 minutes to decide if you will keep this child or he goes in the system.'”
Knowing he did not want the little boy to face the same things he did growing up in foster care, he adopted his nephew. “I looked at them and I said ‘I’ll take him.'”
“I had no idea what I was doing. But he’s actually a real gift. I know it was the right decision. And he’s changed my life.”
Now, as he takes the American Idol stage for the second time, he’s singing for both himself and his nephew.
“I want to show him what a man can really do when you step up to the plate. I want to give him a better life.”
And after a beautiful audition, Marcio and his little boy went home with a golden ticket and a bright future on the horizon.
Submit your story here, and subscribe to our best uplifting stories here.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
