OT: A Child's Song...nice story

Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 08:21:56 -0700
Newsgroups: alt.support.stop-smoking
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A Child'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.
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. And Michael keeps on singing. "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. And Michael
keeps on singing. "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I
held you in my arms.. " Michael's little sister relaxes in rest, healing
rest. 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