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So Long Sweet, Sweet Scott
If you ever meet "American Idol's" Scott MacIntyre I promise you it's something you won't forget. He's by the far the nicest, most genuine contestant I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Despite his visual impairment, he remains the most positive, most upbeat person to ever come out of the show. He wanted to go to college. He did. He wanted to get his master's degree. He did. He even was about to pursue another master's degree at Cambridge University but that's when he found out he was in kidney failure.
"That's why I actually came back to the U.S. and had to start emergency dialysis for ten months. It's a very draining process," Scott told me in our interview this morning.
Finally in August of 2007 his piano teacher's wife stepped up to donate her kidney.
"She found out that you know there was a need and she was one of the first people to have no reservations whatsoever," Scott revealed. "She literally saved my life. It's just a miracle everyday that I'm alive now."
It was while he was home in Arizona recovering that Scott made the decision that he was going to try out for "American Idol."
"It really helps me put things in perspective you know. Leaving 'Idol' I don't think I'm as disappointed as I would have been normally if I hadn't been through all the things I've been through. I really keep it in perspective."
Scott also revealed that his younger sister, Katelyn, is about to undergo her own kidney transplant next week.
"It is true and I would appreciate it if everyone in the U.S. would pray for her this coming week."
In the end, Scott being voted off the show this week was perfect timing. Now he can help take care of his sister.
"She knows that I've been through it and I'm doing well right now. I think that helps her a lot, you know, and we'll just have that kind of special bond of both going through something very serious like that."
As for Scott's future he says he hopes to follow in the footsteps of artists like John Mayer, Vanessa Carlton or Gavin DeGraw. He's been writing songs since he was five- years old and can't wait to put out some of his original music. He's even written a song about his own journey.
"It's just about keeping the faith. When you see the view from above. When you're climbing up and up the hill, even when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel... once you get there, you'll look back and you'll see how far you've come."
A sweet message from a very sweet guy.
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I think it's great that this guy struggled to overcome his visual difficulties. People usually just need a bit of help to get them out of really challenging situations. That's why I think the U.S. should increase its foreign aid budget. The Borgen Project has good info on the estimated cost of ending global poverty:
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.