A Brother's Song
*note: the above angel globe was created by Gran Gran's Graphics
THE MIRACLE OF A BROTHER'S SONG
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."
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!
