The Miracle of the Brother’s Song
Contributed by Henry Clarke
A true story
Like any other 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. Day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his little sister in Mommy’s tummy:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
you make me happy when skies are gray.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you,
Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.
The pregnancy went well for Karen and time of labour came. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in a long labour. Finally, after a long struggle, Michael’s little sister was born, but she was in serious condition. The hours and then days inched by and the little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist regretfully had to tell the parents, “there is very little hope, be prepared for the worst.” They had fixed up a special room in their home for their baby – but now found themselves planning for a funeral! In the meantime, Michael kept begging his parents to let him see his sister: “I want to sing to her”, he kept saying.
Week two in the Intensive Care Unit ended with a funeral looking more and more likely. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but children are not allowed in the ICU. Karen made up her mind, she would take Michael whether they liked it or not! If he did not see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into the ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basked, but the charge nurse recognized him as a child, and bellowed: “Get that kid out of her now – no children are allowed!” The strong mother rose up in Karen, and the usual mild-mannered woman glared steel-eyed right into the charge nurse’s face, her lips a firm line.
“He’s not leaving until he sings to his sister!”
Karen took 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. Her pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. “Keep on 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”, his mother whispered. Tears now even conquered the face of the charge 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! The medical staff called what happened a miracle. Karen called it indeed a miracle of God’s love!
Never give up on the people you love. Like Michael’s, your song of love is waiting to be heard
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