Five-year-old boy invites 'entire kindergarten class' to watch his adoption

6 December 2019, 18:28

By Nick Hardinges

@NHardinges

A five-year-old American boy has invited "his entire kindergarten class" to watch his legal adoption in a Michigan court.

The actions of young Michael Clark Jr meant there was "not a dry eye" in the room as his friends cheered him on in the Kent County courthouse.

Judge Patricia Gardner was was overseeing an "Adoption Day" in the courtroom, where 37 children were being "lovingly and officially welcomed by their families."

Michael stepped into the room with a beaming smile on his face, before taking his seat next to his prospective foster parents.

Sat just metres behind him was his kindergarten class who were waving paper hearts on sticks and offering their support with heartwarming messages.

One of his Wealthy Elementary classmates said: "My name's Stephen and Michael's my best friend."

Another, a young girl, said: "My name is Lily and I love Michael."

The judge later declared: "It is ordered Michael, that your forever mum and dad will be David Andrew Eaton and Andrea Louise Melvin."

She allowed Michael and his now-official foster parents to slam down the judge's hammer as smiles lit up faces across the court house, which broke out into cheers and a round of applause.

Speaking outside the room, Michael declared his love for his "daddy."

"I love my daddy so much," he repeatedly exclaimed, with a beaming grin on his face.

His father David replied: "This is just too much. It's been amazing, obviously, how supportive they've all been."

Michael's teacher said her class "began the school year as a family [because] family doesn't have to be DNA, because family is support and love."

Judge Gardner said some of the journeys the children had endured had "been very long."

"They've included miracle and change for the children and family, and incredible community support - as you're able to see today in Michael's adoption hearing," she added.

The court's moving picture has been shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook.