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Keep on Singing
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 learned that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his unborn sister in his Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. Then the labor pains came. Every five minutes - every minute. But complications arose during delivery. Hours of labor... Would a C-section be required? Finally, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in serious condition....
With 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 pediatric specialist told 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 home for the new baby - but now they only planned a funeral. All the while, Michael kept begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he said.
Week two in intensive care: It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are not allowed in Intensive Care. Still, Karen made up her mind. She decided to take Michael into the ICU whether the staff liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister then, he may never see her alive.
She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into the 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 motherly instinct rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared with steel eyes at the head nurse's eyes, her lips showing 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. And 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 responded. The pulse rate became calm and steady for the first time since her birth.
"Keep on singing, Michael," his mother told him.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away..."
The ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr.
"Keep on singing, Michael," Karen encouraged.
"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..."
Michael's little sister relaxed, as rest - healing rest - seemed to sweep over her.
"Keep on singing, Michael."
Tears conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away."
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next day - the very next day - the little girl is 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!
Perhaps this is one way of saying, "never give up on the people you love."
Author Unknown
Submitted by Richard
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 learned that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his unborn sister in his Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. Then the labor pains came. Every five minutes - every minute. But complications arose during delivery. Hours of labor... Would a C-section be required? Finally, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in serious condition....
With 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 pediatric specialist told 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 home for the new baby - but now they only planned a funeral. All the while, Michael kept begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he said.
Week two in intensive care: It looks as if a funeral will come before the week is over. Michael keeps nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are not allowed in Intensive Care. Still, Karen made up her mind. She decided to take Michael into the ICU whether the staff liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister then, he may never see her alive.
She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into the 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 motherly instinct rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared with steel eyes at the head nurse's eyes, her lips showing 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. And 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 responded. The pulse rate became calm and steady for the first time since her birth.
"Keep on singing, Michael," his mother told him.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away..."
The ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr.
"Keep on singing, Michael," Karen encouraged.
"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..."
Michael's little sister relaxed, as rest - healing rest - seemed to sweep over her.
"Keep on singing, Michael."
Tears conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away."
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next day - the very next day - the little girl is 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!
Perhaps this is one way of saying, "never give up on the people you love."
Author Unknown
Submitted by Richard
Thanks for posting this Story-Teller... I'm greatly touched and encouraged... My sister is expecting to deliver her first baby a week or two from now... She is undergoing a tough situation right now... And we just keep on hoping and praying they will be both alright. Amen
