If there's life, there will allways be hope.
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 find out that the new baby is going to
be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his
sister in Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen, an active member
of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown,Tennessee.
Then the labor pains come. Every five minutes every minute. But
complications arise during delivery. Hours of labor. Would a C-section
be required?
Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in
serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance
rushes the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's
Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inch by. The little girl gets
worse. The pediatric specialist tells the parents, "There is very
little hope. Be prepared for the worst."
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This is a baby
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Karen and her husband contact a local cemetery about a burial plot.
They have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby - now
they plan a funeral.
Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says.
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 never allowed in Intensive Care. But Karen makes
up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. If he
doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.
She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him
into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse
recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now!
No children are allowed.
The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually
mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her
lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!"
Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant
losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing.
In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings: "You
are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are
gray --- "
Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
Keep on singing, Michael.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away---"
The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr. Keep on singing, Michael.
"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you
in my arms..." Michael's little sister relaxes as rest, healing rest,
seems to sweep over her. Keep on singing, Michael. Tears conquer the
face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glows.
"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!
Never give up on the people you love!
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