Recently, MidTn got together with some musicians on G+ to help spread the word about Autism and how you can help. Today at 4 central, we will be on the popular show, “Artists in the Plus”. To help with our mission, a good friend sent us this amazing letter. Enjoy, then share it with all of your friends! -cbc

“Hello. My name is Suay Lo of Suayphil Entertainment. I am a 22 year veteran in the music game. I make records because I love the art form, nothing more. It is truly my passion and one of the reasons I wake up every day.

My other reason is my children. I am the proud father of three with one of the kids having autism. I am writing today in support of MidTNMusic and G+ Musicians for Autism Awareness project. I live with autism each and every day of my life. My youngest son, Phillip (age 10), was diagnosed in 2006 when he was 3 years old. He wasn’t born this way. I am not sure how the disease came about, actually. When the testing first began, I was in New York and my children were in Tennessee. When I returned to TN, I started attending the test sessions and the diagnosis was made at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville. They did testing over a three month period in their search of the problems he was having.

When I received the news from the doctor I was devastated. I lived in denial for several months. Like most people, I was not willing to accept that one of my children had the disease. But then I decided that I was no help to my son if I didn’t face the truth about his condition. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I manned up and became the parent he needed me to be.

In the first couple of years after receiving the diagnosis, we went through countless amounts of treatments. From physical and occupational therapy to mental health and family counseling, we encountered it all. No one was able to really help my son. I knew hardly anything about the disease and it was difficult not being able to help my son. I thought that all of these trained professionals would have some answers to my questions, but they were just as lost as I. After the realization that the treatments were a waste of time and also taking family time from me, we discontinued them.

My son has a serious level of autism. He didn’t verbally communicate until this year, and even now his verbal skills are very limited. He has just recently grasped the concept of potty training, and I still have accidents to deal with from time to time. His diet is also limited. He only eats food that have a certain texture, and very seldom will he try anything new. He has to take medication to help him focus at school during the day and also to help him fall asleep at night. He is on a strict daily routine, for changes in his daily schedule may disrupt his quality of life. And he cannot be left alone under any circumstances.

But to look at him at first glance, you wouldn’t know Phillip was autistic. He looks and acts like any other 10 year old boy. He’s a very bright boy with amazing intellect. He has been treated different by others and even myself because of his condition, mostly people did not think he could handle himself. I realized that I was not doing him any favors by handling him with kid gloves. The world is unforgiving and it is my job to prepare him for life after dad leaves this world. I stopped “babying” him and started to treat him like my other kids (while always keeping his condition in the back of my mind). Once I changed my way of thinking, he became a better functioning kid, and we bacame a stronger family. I know his limitations, but still continue to push him to be at his best at all times. My son has no problem stepping up to the plate and challenging himself to greatness.

I was granted full custody of all three kids May 27, 2011. Prior to that I had joint full custody, with my visitation schedule consisting of one week with, one week without my kids. Having the kids full time slowed my music career down a bit, but by no means did it stop my flow. I had to make some adjustments in my professional life to make my personal life run more smoothly. I took a lesser role as an artist, meaning that I perform less than my normal show schedule, and focused my attention on the executive aspect of the Game. I moved my operation out of an office and into my home so that I could be available for my son at all times. I quit my day job to devote 100% of my energy to being a more in-tuned parent, and my business is steadily growing at a rapid pace. I did have to start from scratch in devising a new plan on how I was going to survive as a musician and raise the kids, but having a child with autism has been the biggest blessing I have received in my life.

Autism has taught me patience, willpower, and has given me a never give up attitude. It has also taught me to appreciate life’s simplest pleasures. I have learned that we as people can do whatever we put our minds to regardless of life’s obstacles. I was blessed with an angel in Phillip. He is the sweetest, most loving child I have ever had the chance of knowing. I am the luckiest man on earth to have the honor of calling him my son. He has a beautiful spirit and a loving heart. We have rough times, daily. But the awesome times we have together make the hard times more sweet. Phillip doesn’t always understand how hard and dangerous life can be. I get a sense of peace knowing that the things life throws our way sometimes does not affect him the way it would affect others, and it says to me, “don’t sweat the small stuff.”

My other children adore Phil. My oldest son does not want a cure for Phillip. He thinks he’s perfect just the way he is. He feels finding a cure will change Phil, and he wouldn’t be the same kid we’ve come to love and appreciate. I, on the other hand, really want a cure. I want to increase his, and other autistic people’s, quality of life. But if we do not find a cure in my lifetime, it is not the end of the world for my family. We have survived this long with the disease and are a better family for it. But the disease is very real and it affects tons of families each day. I do have times that I want to throw in the towel. But my babies count on me. SoI have to be strong for them.

I hope my story has shed positive light on this matter. It is not easy being a parent of [an autistic child]. I would not wish this disease on my worst enemy. But watching him experience things for the first time and how he responds to certain things, or even the little things we take for granted on a daily basis and to see how big these accomplishments are to him are tremendous. We will always be in search for a cure, but I choose life with my son above all else.

I thank you for allowing me to partake in this project. I have never really openly talked about my son’s condition to anyone outside of my inner circle. This exercise has been really therapeutic, almost as therapeutic as songwriting. It has helped me deal with my inner demons with autism and I hope my story can help others going through my struggles, as well as educate those who are ignorant to the disease. Thank you MidTNMusic.com for your interest in the disease. I know your efforts will help others, also.”

If you are interested in the G+ Musicians for Autism Awareness project, or you just want to show your support the autism communities, please pay a visit to  all funds raised go to Autism-Society.org

Our Twitter and G+ hashtag is #gmaa