Here is a true story about the power of love to save a child’s life. It took place in the intensive care unit of St. Mary’s hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.

When Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Michael, prepare for the new sibling. Karen knew she was having a girl, and she spoke to her son often about the upcoming birth. Michael awaited it with eager anticipation. Day after day and night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy’s tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen. In time, the labor pains came. Karen was rushed to the delivery room, and there some serious complications set in. Karen was told that a C-section would be required. Finally, Michael’s little sister was born. There was intense joy and reverence at the moment of birth, but the joy quickly gave way to growing concern. The little baby was in a serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, an ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee:

“There is very little hope,” said the pediatrician specialist. “Be prepared for the worst.”

Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister:

“I want to sing to her,” he kept saying.

With deep pain and sorrow, Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot.

As week two in intensive care began, it looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister. Karen made up her mind. She would take Michael into intensive care whether they liked it or not. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into the ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him, and cried:

“Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed!”

Notwithstanding, Karen towed Michael to his sister’s bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing her battle to live. After a moment, he 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 the baby girl seemed to respond. Her pulse rate began to calm down and became steady.

“Keep on singing, Michael,” encouraged Karen with tears of joy.

“You’ll never know dear how much I love you; please don’t take my sunshine away,” continued Michael.

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby’s halting, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr.

“Keep on singing, sweetheart!” Karen encouraged, Michael.

“The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms….,” he sang.

Michael’s little sister began to relax, as healing began to sweep over her.

“Keep on singing, Michael,” sobbed his mother.

Tears now flowed down the face of the head nurse. Karen glowed with joy in spite of her tears.

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don’t take my sunshine away…,” the little boy’s voice rang out.

The very next day, the little girl was 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 agreed.

— Offered by Fr. Hugh Duffy.