 “Never
Give Up On The People You Love”
Editorial by Robert Kirwan
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.
The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen, an active
member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in
Morristown,Tennessee. 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.
Keep on singing, Michael.
"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. Keep on singing, Michael.
"The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I
dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister relaxes as
rest, healing rest, seems to sweep over her. Keep on singing, Michael.
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!
NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
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