You Are My Sunshine


Like any good mother, when Karen found 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, begs 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.

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 in ICU."

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!"

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.
Sing Michael Sing

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away."

The ragged, strained breathing
becomes 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.
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken.
So I hung my head and I cried."

Michael's little sister relaxes as rest,
healing rest, seems to sweep over her.
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."

The 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.

A few weeks later, Michael's little sister was baptized at
the Panther Creek Church.





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