Like any good mother, when Karen found out that
another baby was on the way, she did what she could
to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a
new sibling. They found out that the new baby was
going to be a girl, and day after day, night after
night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy.
He was building a bond of love with his little
sister before he even met her.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In
time, the labor pains came. But serious
complications arose during delivery and Karen found
herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be
required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's
little sister was born. But she was in very serious
condition. With a siren howling in the night, the
ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal
intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital,
Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The
little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell
the parents, "There is very little hope. Be
prepared for the worst."
Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery
about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special
room in their house for their new baby but now they
found themselves having to plan for a funeral.
Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let
him see his sister. I want to sing to her," he kept
saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a
funeral would come before the week was over.
Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister,
but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen
made up her mind, though. She would take Michael
whether they liked it or not! If he didn't see his
sister right then, he may never see her alive.
She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and
marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking
laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him
as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here
now! No children are allowed."
The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually
mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the
head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not
leaving until he sings to his sister!"
Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He
gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.
After a moment, he began to sing. In the
pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me
happy when skies are gray ...
Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The
pulse rate began to calm down and become steady.
"Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with
tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much
I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."
As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged,
strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's
purr. Keep on singing, sweetheart!!!" "The other
night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you
in my arms...."Michael's little sister began to
relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over
her.
"Keep on singing, Michael."Tears had now conquered
the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed You
are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't,
take my sunshine away...."
The next day, the very next day, the little girl was
well enough to go home!
Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a
Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a
miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.
Please send this to all the people that have touched
your life in some way. Life is good. Have a
Wonderful Day!