I'm from Ireland and have recorded a song called "The leaves mustn't fall" which is about what is described:

"My mother knew an Irish song from her youth. It was about a man who was tying leaves to a tree. He had a child who was dying, the doctor had said the child would be dead before the autumn leaves fell from the tree, so the man was trying to prevent the leaves from falling, and thus prevent the child's death. Does anyone know the title and/or lyrics to this song? Thanks for your help."

The song was originally done by blues singer Moon Mullican, who was American and of partly Irish descent.