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. Soon
it was every five minutes, every three...every
minute. 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 sirens
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 cemetary about a burial
plot. They had fixed up a special room in the
house for their new baby but now 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-mannerer
lady glared steel-eyed right into the 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 singing Michael"
encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.
"You'll 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!
Mark 11:12
Doubt sees the obstacle,
Faith sees the way.
Doubt sees a long dark night,
Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step,
Faith soars on high.
Doubt thunders, "Who believes?"
Faith whispers, "I".
