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"Keep On Singing" |
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Like any good mother,
when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could do 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, & day after day, night after night, Michael
would sing to his sister in mommy's tummy.
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The pregnancy
progressed normally for Karen. Then the labor pains came. Every five
minute.....every minute. Bu t complications arose during delivery.
Hours of labor. A C-Section was required. Finally, Michael's little
sister was born, but she was in serious condition.
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With sirens howling in
the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the nenatal intensive care
unit at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. The days
inched by. the little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist tells the
parents, "There is little hope. Be prepared for the worst."
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Karen & her husband
contacted a local cemetary about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in
their home for the new baby-now they plan a funeral. Michael kept begging his
parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says.
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Week two in intensive
care.
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It looked as if a
funeral would come before the week was over. Michael keeps nagging about
singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen made up
her mind. She would take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't
see his sister now, he would never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized
scrub suit & marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket, but
the head murse recognized him as a child & bellowed, "Get that kid out of here
now! No children are allowed in ICU.
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The mother rises up
strong in Karen, & 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!"
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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:
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"You are my
sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray-"
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Instantly the baby girl
responded. The pulse rate became calm & steady. "You never know,
dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away-"
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The ragged
strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr.
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"The other night,
dear, as I lay sleeping. I dreamed I held you in my arms-"
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Michael's little
sister relaxes as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.
Tears conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.
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"You are my
sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away."
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Funeral plans were
scrapped. The next day, the very next day, the little girl was well enough to go
home!
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Woman's Day magazine
called it "the miracle of a brother's song."
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The medical staff just
called it a miracle.
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