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 find 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.
The pregnancy progressed normally for
Karen. Then the labor pains came. Every five minutes ...
then every minute. But complications arose. Hours of labor.
Would a C-section be required?
Finally, Michael's little sister was
born. But she was in serious condition. With sirens howling in the
night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neo-natal intensive care
unit at
St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The
little girl's condition got worse. The pediatric specialist told the
parents,
"There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst."
Karen and her husband contact a local
cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in
their home for the new baby - now they were planning a funeral.
Michael begged his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing
to her," he said.
Week two in intensive care. It looked as
if a funeral will come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging
about singing to his sister, but children are never allowed in
Intensive Care. However, Karen made up her mind. She took Michael to
the hospital
figuring whether they like it or not, if he doesn't see his sister now,
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 steely-eyed into the head nurse's
face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his
sister!" Karen lead 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. Keep on singing, Michael.
"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.
"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 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!
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Copyright
© 2006, Jace Carlton. All International Rights Reserved.
