THE 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 his sister. Day after day and night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy.
He was building a bond of love with his little sister even before he met her. The pregnancy progressed normally until the time of delivery. A C-section was required after a long period of labor.
When Michael's sister was born she was in very serious condition. She was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
As days passed, the little baby became worse and doctors seemed to think there was little hope. They told the parents to be prepared for the worst so Karen and her husband made arrangement with the local funeral director.
Michael kept begging Karen to let him sing to his sister who was in the Intensive Care Unit. Children are not allowed in this unit, but Karen was determined to let Michael see and sing to his sister.
Karen dressed Michael in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into the ICU. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed in this unit."
The mother instinct in Karen became very strong and she said to the nurse, "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister."
Karen led Michael to his sister's bedside. Michael gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing: "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. With tears in her eyes, Karen told Michael to keep singing. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."
As Michael sang to his sister, the babies' strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. Karen told Michael to keep singing. "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. Karen told Michael to keep on singing. By this time, tears had conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.
Michael kept singing, "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.
Women'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.
(This story was sent to me in an email.)