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Prince George's County Public Schools -
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 would be a girl, and day after
day, night after night, Michael would sing 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 Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee... days
inch by. The little girl gets worse. The pediatric
specialist tells 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 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 in Karen
rises up strong, 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; now glows. "You
are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't, take my
sunshine away." Funeral plans are scrap. 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..... |
