Boy who battled a potentially fatal virus as a baby is now off to dance school in LA and will be dreaming big
A starry-eyed schoolboy who battled a life-threatening virus as a baby is destined for fame after being scouted by a Los Angeles dance school.
Kai McDonald is only six years old but already has a bedroom full of medals and trophies from showcasing his hip hop dance talent.
And early next year, the St Louise Primary School pupil will be heading for Hollywood thanks to the power of social media.
US dance mentors from Connect Your Talent — based at the same California studio where the hit TV show Dance Moms is filmed — are flying the youngster out for a week of intenstive dance training after his audition tapes caught their eye on YouTube.
Kai’s proud mum, Michelle Wright, told the News her little star is on cloud nine after landing such an incredible opportunity — and revealed he has come a long way from the trauma he suffered as a tot.
When Kai was just nine months old, he was struck down by the rare virus herpes virus eczema herpeticum — a condition sometimes caused by babies being kissed by someone with a cold sore.
The viral infection of the skin can cause blindness and scar tissue on organs and lays dormant in the body.
With Kai’s organs in danger of failing, he was rushed to intensive care where he spent two weeks fighting for his life on an intravenous drip.
Michelle, 28, from Greenhills, said: “The first thing we knew about it was when Kai was covered head to toe in spots.
“At first, we thought it was chicken pox but he was really unsettled and we got him to the doctors. By the time we got him there, he was quite limp and really unwell.
“The doctors told us we had to take him straight to Yorkhill hospital in Glasgow.
“Some people say babies can get the infection if they are kissed by someone with a cold sore, but we don’t know how Kai got it.
“It was frightening because he was put into intensive care and it was touch and go for a few days.
“These days, doctors know how to treat it and it is rarely fatal — but at that time it was still looked upon as something quite new and dangerous.”
Since overcoming the illness, the energetic youngster discovered local dance school Nu-Hype and has flourished on the competitive stage winning 15 trophies.
He just missed out on a place in national talent contest TeenStar after reaching the finals with dance group Nu-Lite last month, and as their youngest ever solo competitor. But tomorrow Kai will make his debut performance in the UDO world street dance championships in Glasgow.
The starlet has also made it through to the semifinals of Nation’s Best Dance Act this Sunday in Glasgow’s SECC.
And he is gearing up to fly the flag for Scotland with a group and solo performance in the UDO Six Nations Championships for the first time this December.
Michelle added: “Nothing fazes Kai. He is forever dancing all the time, he never stays still!
“I never have to encourage him to practise, he’s either flipping himself off the couch or is upside down on his head.
“He is competitive and because he’s always the youngest, and so tiny, he always stands out to the judges like the young boy in Diversity — I think he has what it takes to make it.
“We can’t quite believe he’s going to LA. It’s amazing how far he’s come in such a short space of time. And this is a great opportunity for him.
“Kai is really excited to go to America. He couldn’t believe it when we told him that he was going and asked if he would see Justin Bieber.”
The family are fundraising to make the trip to America and are appealing for donations to their crowdfunding page at justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/dancinginla