Valley Boy Finds Hero in Idol Castoff James Durbin

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/entertainment/television/valley-boy-hero-james-durbin-5-18-2011

Valley Boy Finds Hero in Idol Castoff James Durbin

PHOENIX - One valley American Idol fan was especially upset over James Durbin being voted off last week. He's one of Durbin's biggest fans. When Durbin was first introduced on the show, Nikolai Bloom wrote him and the two became email friends during the course of the season.

But he's not just a fan of his because of music. They share a special connection.

19 year old Nikolai says he knew immediately he could relate to American Idol castoff James Durbin. Both were diagnosed with Tourettes and Aspergers syndrome, a form of high functioning autism.

"And then when I heard that, I just got all emotional, broke out and was like God, he's just like me. I wanted to meet him even if he didn't win or even if he didn't, just because he followed what he wanted to do," says Nikolai.

Robin Sweet is Nikolai's mom. She is the director of Gateway Academy, a Scottsdale school specializing in students with Aspergers.

"He burst into tears when he saw James talk about his experience of having Aspergers and being tortured and teased and bullied in school and how life was hell for him," Robin recalls. "And the connection was kind of made in heaven there… to watch James every week and sit there like he's part of the audience. He's clapping away and he's yelling. It's pretty phenomenal. It's inspirational."

Nikolai is now blazing his own path with music and art.

"So through watching him and seeing him follow his dream, it kind of got me more motivated to do what I believe in," says Nikolai.

When Durbin got voted off the show, Robin says she cried.

"I was just so distraught and upset over it. But after a few minutes, I realized that every other person on American Idol who hasn't come in first, they ended up doing better and signed to a much better label than the people who have won American Idol," says Nikolai.

Watching Durbin perform on a national stage inspired Nikolai and other students to take on the tough road.

"I think it's very important. It shows a lot of people in the same spectrum that they can be successful in life and to believe in himself," says Nikolai. "To meet him would be the most amazing honor that I could ever ask for."

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One of many articles I expect. This is so great.

A Fan