Nashville songwriter Regie Hamm thought he’d hit rock bottom a few years ago.
Though he had 21 hit songs to his name, his musical career was in a deep slump. He’d lost his record deal and his family was almost bankrupt from trying to find a medical diagnosis for his newly adopted daughter, Bella, now 8. Her inexplicable symptoms had gotten her dropped from the family’s insurance plan.
Then his wife suggested he enter the annual “American Idol” songwriting contest.
“What I ended up writing about was holding on to the moments that you have and the people you love.” he said. “This is it. This is what you have to embrace. The things you actually have are beautiful.”
The song, “Time of My Life,” won the contest and was sung by 2008 “American Idol” winner David Cook, staying at the top of the pop charts for months.
“Time of My Life” was the start of his comeback on many levels, said Mr. Hamm, who is keynote speaker at the annual Southeastern Autism Symposium today at Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education. The symposium is titled “In Autism the Handwriting is on the Wall: The Role of Motor Control in Socialization and Education.”
In 2006, Bella was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, which is often misdiagnosed as autism. It was a challenge that could only be met with acceptance and faith, Mr. Hamm said.
His book, “Angels and Idols,” chronicles the ups and downs of the past few years.
Bella’s condition is a rare neurogenetic disorder characterized by developmental delays, lack of speech, seizures and walking and balance disorders, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation.
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Mr. Hamm wants to provide hope to parents of children with developmental disabilities and spread awareness about his daughter’s condition.
“I want to sing them some songs, I want to send out some love and some hope and let them know that they’re not alone in this journey,” he said.
Dr. Debbie Murray, an organizer of the symposium and the dean of the College of Education at Lee, said Mr. Hamm’s presence will mean a lot to the parents in attendance.
“We have teachers, specialists and doctors speak,” Dr. Murray said, but “we thought Regie would especially relate to the parents this year.”
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