Since the day Amanda Gray’s son, Bo, was born, she was told he would inspire and teach the world someday.
“At that time I don’t think my husband, Caleb, and I could comprehend or even imagine it to this extent. He is a blessing. He has brought a sweet spirit into our home and a little piece of heaven,” said Gray.
So much sweetness that Bo, now 2 years old, even inspires his siblings to be great. His mom recently captured an amazing video of Bo’s sister, Lydia, singing “You Are My Sunshine” to him in which he tries to sing along back.
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The inspiring video has since gone viral with more than 30 million views, but there’s a back story to this.
About a month before Bo was supposed to have heart surgery, his parents, who are musicians, sang “You Are My Sunshine” to him every night while he was in their arms.
“It was very much routine before his surgery,” said Grey.
Unfortunately when it was time for Bo’s surgery it didn’t go so well and doctors didn’t know if he would make it.
“He was one of the sickest children on the West Coast for a few weeks. He was ECMO BYPASS For way too long. After weeks and weeks (which ended up in months) of being in the hospital in a silent room of the CICU, we got special permission to bring a guitar in and sing to him in hopes that it would comfort him as they believed that he could still hear us even though he couldn’t physically respond. He was touch and go at this point,” said Grey.
And so the parents who wouldn’t give up hope brought out a guitar and started singing “You Are My Sunshine” to him in the hospital while a nurse recorded a video.
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To everyone’s surprise, Bo moved for the very first time.
“This was the first time that he moved as he reacted to the familiarity of the song and our voices. He was so heavily sedated and wouldn’t respond. From then on this has become his theme song,” said Gray.
Gray and the rest of Bo’s family are now firm believers in music therapy. In fact, Bo learned his first 12 words through music. Every word he has learned has been through music and singing.
“Hi is our little miracle. We are changed forever because of him. All he knows is how to love. Simply love unconditionally. What more could parents ask for?”
