The mother (Sneezy) strapped the little girl (Happy) into her car seat for a twelve-hour ride to Orlando, Florida.
The van was loaded down with Happy’s feeding pump, wheel-chair, pampers, clothes, snacks, rolls of coins, her medicine, and of course her family which included her Mother Sneezy, her brother (Grumpy), her sister (Sleepy) and her grandmother (Dopy).
To raise money for the trip the family had a bake sale, 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 7:30PM and by 10PM 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 the next four weeks.
Happy, Grumpy, and Sleepy would be loaded into the van usually with breakfast in hand or in a lunch bag.
Sneezy ate her 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 in the morning 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 that the job fell to Dopy.
Happy had tubes in her ears so she did not feel the pressure as they filled the tank up with oxygen.
There was no therapy for Happy in the afternoons and on weekends.
The family received free tickets from several places in and around the Orlando area because Sneezy had written to them telling them 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 she could not ride on one of the roller coasters at Universal Studios, she was very angry.
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 and they were rewarded with lots of fun things to do but now it was time for the Happy trio to travel home.
