MCB CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Nancy and her husband discovered that she was pregnant. Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another child was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Michael, prepare for the baby's arrival. Eventually, they found out that the baby was a girl. Night-after-night, Michael sang to his sister in his Mommy's tummy. The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In time, the labor pains came. Soon, the pains came every five minutes...then three...then every minute. Serious complications arose during the delivery. Karen found herself in hours of labor. After a long struggle, Michael's sister was finally born. She was in serious condition. An ambulance rushed the newborn to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. As the days passed, the little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist finally told the parents, "There is little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband contacted the local funeral home about a funeral service. Michael, however, would not give up. He kept begging to see his sister. He said, "I want to sing to her." Week two in the intensive care unit was no better. It looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept begging to sing to his sister. Finally, Karen made up her mind. She would take Michael to see his sister whether the hospital liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister immediately, he might never see her alive. Karen dressed Michael in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. The head nurse saw what was happening. She bellowed out, "Get that kid out of here! No children are allowed." The mother rose up inside Karen. The usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the nurse's face. She said, "He's not leaving until he sings to his sister!" With that, Karen lead Michael to his sister's bedside. After a moment, Michael began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a three-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray..." Instantly, his sister seemed to respond. Her pulse rate calmed and became 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 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. Healing rest seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears were now following down the face of the head nurse. Michael continued singing, "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! Later, an article in Woman's Day magazine called what happened, "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!
The Chaplain’s Corner covers everything faith related. Facts not attributed are purely the opinion of the writer.