Good Samaritans Help Make Family's Trip To Sesame Place Unforgettable

By Anita Oh

LANGHORNE, PA (CBS) -- A Florida family planned to stop at Sesame Place in Bucks County as part of an East Coast road trip.

The family was hoping the real-life interaction with Sesame Street characters will help their four-year-old daughter Maggie, who has severe autism.

"We're gonna go see fuzzy monsters, we're gonna go see Sesame Street, set her up to have a good day."

Plans were sidelined when the car didn't start. The family was stranded at a hotel when they learned the car wouldn't be a quick fix.

"I was trying to tell her in a way she could understand that the promise I made wasn't going to happen and that was really hard as a parent," said Mary Sue Reese, Maggie's mom.

Luckily, three law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania were able to help.

"I was like okay we are making this happen," said Sergeant Joey Rafferty of the Bucks Co Sheriff's Dept. "I would want someone to help me just like I helped them."

But the family never expected the royal treatment that came next, including a round-trip ride to the park in a patrol car -- outfitted to accommodate Maggie's needs.

Once Sesame Place heard about Maggie, it offered the family special passes to zip through the lines, lunch at the park, and tickets to a meet and greet with some of the characters.

And this family is thankful that what started as a bad day ended up being more uplifting than they could have ever dreamed.

"It was just good samaritan stuff from people that didn't have to do it. It's a trip we will never forget, that's for sure."