The mother (Sneezy) strapped the little girl (Happy) into her car seat for a twelve-hour ride to Orlando, Florida.
The van was loaded with Happy's feeding pump, wheelchair, pampers, clothes, snacks, rolls of coins, medicine, and, of course, her family, which included her Mother, Sneezy, her brother (Grumpy), her sister (Sleepy), and her grandmother (Dopy).
The family held a bake sale to raise money for the trip and sent requests to churches and businesses.
Happy had two massive strokes at the age of six months and was continually having seizures.
The family hoped that physical therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy would make a difference in Happy's life.
The family left home at 7:30 P.M., by 10 P.M., and the children were fast asleep.
By one p.m., Sneezy was getting sleepy, so Dopy took over driving. Dopy did not want to fall asleep, so she stopped at every rest area and bought a Diet Mountain Dew to keep her awake.
The Ronald McDonald House would be the family's home for four weeks.
Happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy would be loaded into the van, usually with breakfast in hand or in a lunch bag.
Sneezy ate breakfast during her one-hour drive to Melbourne in early morning traffic.
Every morning, Dopy would take out the map for directions, count out the coins for the three toll booths, and try to keep Happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy contented.
Happy had physical therapy from nine a.m. until noon every day, and by the end of the morning, she was no longer happy.
The family had a break for lunch, and after lunch, Happy would receive Hyper-Beric Oxygen therapy.
During the first week, Sneezy had an ear infection, so she could not get into the oxygen tank with Happy.
Needless to say, the job fell to Dopy.
Happy had tubes in her ears so she did not feel the pressure as they filled the tank with oxygen.
There was no therapy for Happy in the afternoons and on weekends.
The family received complimentary tickets from several places in and around the Orlando area because Sneezy had written about Happy's much-needed therapy.
The family was caught in a rainstorm while visiting Gator-Land; thank God no gators floated out of the ponds.
The Airboat Ride made a horribly loud sound, so everyone on the boat had to wear earmuffs as they rode through the glades looking for alligators.
Sleepy lost one of her shoes and could not ride one of the roller coasters at Universal Studios. She was furious.
Dixie Stampede treated the family to a free meal and show.
Grumpy and Sleepy chased chickens during the show.
The family's picture was taken with the Dixie Stampede performing group at the end.
Happy was given the book of many colors written by Dolly Pardon.
Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, and Dopy spent many hours waiting for Happy to get therapy. They were rewarded with lots of fun things to do, but now it was time for the Happy trio to travel home.
