You are My Sunshine

[Guest guest]

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 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 a siren 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 cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a

special room in their house for their new baby but now they 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 over

sized 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 steel-eyed right into the head 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 on singing, Michael, " encouraged Karen with tears in her

eyes.

 

" You 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!

 

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE. LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

 

Life is good. Have a Wonderful Day!