Most parents with special needs children work nonstop, caring for their child 24 hours a day with no breaks throughout the year for themselves, not even a dinner out with their spouse. And that goes on year after year. The days are consumed with weekly speech and physical therapist appointments and working around the clock to help their child.

That's how Leo and Danielle Corley's lives were spinning as they worked tirelessly daily to help their 11-year-old son Connor who has autism. Until one day, they were both so drained, they realized they needed to take a vacation. They needed to exhale. As difficult as it was to get away, it made all the difference in regaining their sanity and happiness as a couple and as a family.

To help other families experience the same happiness and relief and to help save marriages, the Corleys decided to start a nonprofit, Happy Someday, to provide vacations for caregivers and families of special needs children in Montgomery and Harris counties.

"When you find out you have a special needs child, you work so aggressively to help them," Danielle said. "There is no ending to that shift. You can't sustain that level of intensity. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon. You have to pace yourselves."

When you fail to care for the caregiver, the family relationship suffers and the relationships among spouses suffer, she said. That exhaustion can lead to divorce and depression, she said.

"We don't want to see people get depressed because they're tired," Danielle said. "Vacations help caregivers gain strength, and it helps carry them through. It's not going to fix everything, but I hope it gives caregivers a chance to exhale. We work so hard to give our kids a voice and identity that we trade in our own."

The nonprofit, which started in January in Tomball, is currently funded entirely by the Corleys. Happy Someday is holding its first fundraising event, a golf tournament, Oct. 16.

The Corleys have sent three couples on vacations so far—to Hawaii, Costa Rica and Boston. The families are referred to Happy Someday from family counselors, churches, therapists and schools.

"People say 'Someday I'll take a vacation'," Leo said. "It's today. The need is already there. We recognize that, and we're doing good for goodness sake. It feels so good to help people who are in crisis. Everybody deserves a break."

The Corleys custom-fit the vacation for the caregiver, asking them where they would like to go. Then, Happy Someday makes all the travel arrangements, including purchasing plane tickets and lodging. The family may choose to bring their children or just go as a couple.

Eventually, the Corleys want to purchase a vacation home for the families to use, probably by the beach.

The Corleys also plan to include resources on their website for parents with special needs children. The Corleys are hoping others will offer services through their website to caregivers of special needs children such as free haircuts, manicures or coffee.

Vacations have not only helped the Corleys reconnect and strengthen their family, but have also helped their son grow, Danielle said. At the beach, the Corley's son Connor loves the pattern of the waves and the simple pleasure of having all the stimuli stripped away and enjoying just the sand and water. He started talking more at the beach and making eye contact, they said.

"It's good for him to go out and see new things," Danielle said. "We see developmental leaps on vacation. It forces him out of his comfort zone. It's good for our son and good for us."

Golf tournament

Happy Someday is holding its first fundraiser, a golf tournament, Oct. 16. The Corleys are working to get support from local businesses to sponsor groups.

Fun on the Fairways

Oct. 16

Fun on the Fairways is a golf tournament at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club, 37300 Golf Club Trail, Magnolia. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start at 1 p.m. 832-698-9474. [email protected]. Proceeds benefit local families and caregivers of children with special needs.

To make a donation directly to Happy Someday, call 832-698-9474,

email [email protected] or visit

www.happysomeday.com.