Daniel is still smiling despite challenges

When a plane crashed into Daniel Happy’s Sanford, Fla. home in 2007, his life changed forever.

Daniel sustained second- and third-degree burns over 95 percent of his body. His parents sustained burns as well. And tragically, Daniel’s four-year-old sister Gabrielle was killed in the horrific accident that made national news.

Only hours after the crash, Daniel was airlifted from a local hospital to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Cincinnati. The burns on Daniel’s body were so extensive he was not expected to survive but amazingly, he did. During the next seven months he spent in the hospital, he underwent multiple surgeries and grueling physical therapy. But by the time he was released from the hospital, he had made tremendous progress.

Daniel’s mother decided it would be in her son’s best interest to relocate to Cincinnati so he could continue his treatment. Daniel is now seen on an outpatient basis at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Cincinnati. The hospital continues to provide all necessary care to Daniel, and to all its patients, without financial obligation. 

When Daniel was ready to return to school, the hospital’s school re-entry program helped ease him back into the school setting by providing his classmates with lessons on empathy and acceptance.

Extremely outgoing and a good student, Daniel has flourished at his new school and has even started a campus-wide fundraising program called “Happy Tabs for Shriners Hospitals." The initial goal to collect 1 million aluminum can tabs was achieved in just a few short months. The students then collected a second million tabs, and have connected with dozens of people across the country who collect tabs on behalf of their program. The money Happy and his schoolmates collect from the sale of the aluminum tabs helps provide a variety of items for patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Daniel was recently selected to represent Shriners Hospitals for Children as a patient ambassador for the 85th East-West Shrine Game, which will be held January 23, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.

As a patient ambassador for the 85th East-West Shrine Game, Happy will represent the more than 120,000 children currently receiving care at the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout North America. He will attend official East-West Shrine Game events and take center-field on game-day for the coin toss.

The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running college all-star football game in the country. While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children.

An avid and enthusiastic football fan, Happy is excited to be chosen to be part of the East-West Shrine Game, and is looking forward to Game Day. It is yet another positive milestone on his road to healing and recovery.

Make a gift today to help children like Daniel who are coping with devastating burn injuries or other serious medical conditions. Donate now.

Tune in to ESPN2 at 3 p.m. EST Saturday Jan. 23 to catch all the action at the 85th annual East-West Shrine Game. For more information about the game, visit www.shrinegame.com.