Keep Singing, Michael 555.3
A story attributed to Woman's Day Magazine tells of a three-year-old boy named Michael who was excited to learn that he was going to have a baby sister. Every day, Michael would touch his mommy’s tummy tenderly and sing all the songs he knew to the baby.
Tragically, the baby was born in critical condition, and the doctors said the newborn would not last through the week. Michael, who was unaware of the crisis, kept insisting he wanted to see his sister and sing to her. Although children were not allowed in intensive care, his mother decided to let Michael see his sister and sing to her before she passed away.
When the nurse saw Michael in the room, she said, "That child will have to leave."
Michael’s mom responded firmly, "Not until he sings to his sister."
Michael didn’t notice all the wires attached to the tiny infant. Touching the outside of the plastic crib, he beamed and began to sing:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away."
Strangely, the baby seemed to respond. Her pulse rate slowed and her breathing became easier. With tears in her eyes, the mother said, "Keep singing, Michael, keep singing." The more Michael sang, the more the baby relaxed.
Soon even the nurse chimed in, "Keep singing, Michael, keep singing."
And Michael did. The baby fell into a calm, healing sleep. Within days, she was well enough to take home.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
For your consideration: Variations of this story can be found on many inspirational sites on the Internet. It has been attributed to Woman's Day Magazine, but is, in all likelihood, a parable.
Comments
Dear Michael,
This is second time I have written to you. The first time was for something I did not agree with and still don't, but today is to send you a hearty "well done". I was driving early this morning to work when your beautiful account of little Michael singing the song, "You are my Sunshine" to his newborn sister came on. It brought tears to my eyes. How wonderful that this mother was not paralyzed with her own fear at the thought of losing her newborn, that it crowded out concerns for others. She still thought of her other child who needed to see and sing to his sister. This no doubt saved the little ones life. My husband works for the music publishing company who published this Jimmy Davis tune. Jimmy wrote the song more than sixty years ago and it put him in the "Song Writers Hall of Fame". He would be so proud to have heard this story. Thank you for sharing the story of this wonderful mom and her son. Keep 'em coming!
Posted by: Sandy S. Savage | February 26, 2008 11:43 PM
Is this a true story? I would be interested in hearing more details about where it came from. Enlighten us.
Posted by: Russell | February 28, 2008 12:51 PM
Russell, get a life
Posted by: kini | February 28, 2008 10:51 PM
Life is blessed by the little people more than we realize. Perhaps our grown up wisdom could learn a few things from them.
Posted by: Ed J. | February 29, 2008 6:17 AM
This is the beautiful proof of the power of a child. He believed, and he passed that positive power on to his little sister. Isn't God wonderful!
Posted by: Gerri Warden | February 29, 2008 6:48 AM
Dear Michael,
I just read your two messages which both are about encouragement: one about letting people know we appreciate them, the other about Michael singing his sister out of her critical condition. Both messages continue to affirm how much we as people need each other for our very lives to continue. I continue to appreciate YOU and the phenomenal messages you present for all of us.
Posted by: Candace Northrop | February 29, 2008 6:53 AM
Dear Sir Michael,
Thanks for the wonderful stories. Your post always hit me and inspire me. More power!
Posted by: Alex Espinosa | March 1, 2008 12:59 PM
Check out what Snopes.com says regarding this story.
Posted by: Joy | March 3, 2008 9:57 AM
I heard Mr. Josephson on the radio this morning talking about a young boy singing to his newborn sister, and the near-miraculous recovery she subsequently made. So I tried looking it up on the internet.
Far from not being able to find it, I found numerous versions of the story. But many of them varied in the details - where, when, age of the boy, etc.
And here's the funny thing: one site dedicated to trying to verify (or debunk) such material was not able to verify the story.
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/sunshine.asp
So, here's an idea for Mr. Josephson: The next time he is stuck for an idea of what to talk about, as he seems to have been today, maybe he could do a couple minutes on the 'ethics' of telling apocryphal stories on the radio, and either failing to verify them first or knowingly passing them off as true.
Please let me know when he'll be running his correction, as that is the only ethical thing to do here.
Remember, character counts!
Posted by: Robert | March 6, 2008 1:21 PM
RESPONSE FROM MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
Dear Robert:
I appreciate your note concerning my commentary about a little boy singing to his ailing sister.
First, I must confess I was initially tempted to ignore it because I found the tone of your note so off-putting. My impression was that you took a special smug delight in “unmasking” what you believe was a serious ethical breach. And your conclusion, “Please let me know when he'll be running his correction, as that is the only ethical thing to do here. Remember, character counts!” was particularly self-righteous. I really wish your point could have been made without the negative assumptions and accusations.
Still, once I moved past my defensiveness I recognized the essential validity of your point about failing to distinguish between verifiably true stories and parables.
It is something I’ve thought about before, a fact that compounds my guilt. I’ve simply been sloppy and lazy.
In fact, in a version of the Michael story I broadcast several years ago I included in the written newsletter the following disclaimer: “Variations of this story can be found on many inspirational sites on the Internet. It is originally attributed to Women's Wear Daily, but is, in all likelihood, a parable.”
For unknown reasons we did not reprint the same disclaimer in last week’s newsletter (that will be corrected). The point is I was aware of the fact that at least some listeners and readers would assume the story is true even though I knew it couldn’t be verified. What’s more, while I cautioned my readers I said nothing to alert my listeners to the probability that the story is a parable.
Thank you for holding me accountable. Today, I broadcast an apology commentary, titled "Mea Culpa!", which you can view in my blog:
http://charactercounts.org/michael/2008/03/mea_culpa_5565.html
Posted by: Michael Josephson | March 6, 2008 1:30 PM
My tone was "so off-putting" because it was not the first time - and probably not the fifth time - I've heard one of your stories and thought it sounded "too good to be true"; it was just the first time I was near a computer with the details fresh in my mind to be able to check. I remain dubious that you and your staff could be that credulous...but I appreciate the retraction/correction, and I appreciate the email.
Posted by: Robert | March 6, 2008 1:32 PM
RESPONSE FROM MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
Snopes.com, the website dedicated to dispelling internet rumor that Robert cited in his comment, also offers the following thought in relation to this parable:
“True story or not, there's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from this (or any other) glurgy tale. Inspiration is not dependent on the truth value of any given story, despite the attempts of many to make it so. Modern day parables that stir the heart have the power to do so whether those narratives are based on real incidents or not. Likewise, stories that don't set the spirit to soaring on their own merits will not suddenly gain this ability from being labeled 'True story!'
"In answer to the expected 'Yes, but is this story true?', the definitive answer is 'No.' That doesn't change its value one whit, it's every bit as inspiring (or syrupy, depending on point of view) whether the events depicted happened or not."
To see the full text, click on the following link or copy and paste it into your web browser: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/sunshine.asp
Posted by: Michael Josephson | March 6, 2008 1:36 PM
While looking at some very old files which were placed on my hard drive in January 2000, I came across your story about Michael singing to his sister. I checked to see if you were still doing commentaries and discovered this story was re-told on Feb. 26, 2008, along with a discussion of whether or not it is true.
Perhaps some of your listeners and readers could make this story become true. Suggest to mothers that they get their children to talk or sing to their unborn siblings. They may be needed later. Even if there are no problems, the newborn may be better off for the experience.
I talked to my son before he was born. Later, when he got fussy, I put his head on my chest, talked to him and he would calm down.
Posted by: Dale Ferguson | August 26, 2008 7:50 PM