The joy from Oregon spread back to Alabama just as quickly as the news spread from Alabama to Oregon.
Leni's Law is one signature from Gov. Robert Bentley away from being law.
The grassroots effort resulted in the state legislature Wednesday night passing Leni's Law - which decriminalizes cannabidiol, a derivative of marijuana that has been effective in curtailing seizures in epileptics.
Amy Young, Leni's mom, pushed for Leni's Law along with her husband Wayne after choosing to relocate to Oregon to legally access the oil.
"I've got this smile glued to my face," Amy told AL.com on Thursday morning.
Indeed, the joy in Amy's voice lost none of its enthusiasm even as it traveled over two time zones preceded by a night with little sleep.
"It has been crazy," Young said of her life since the legislature passed the bill. "I actually shut my phone off overnight so that we could get some rest. We were still getting messages at 2 o'clock in the morning when I finally said, 'I've got to go to bed.'
"The messages are amazing. They are parents who finally have some hope. That is incredibly humbling."
Leni's Law bills were carried in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, and in the Senate by Sen. Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville. The House version got watered down, reducing the sought-after 3 percent THC in the CBD oil to 1 percent. But the Senate approved the 3 percent in its bill in a 29-3 vote and the House followed suit in a 95-4 vote.
Now it's goes to Bentley's desk. The governor's spokeswoman, Jennifer Ardis, said Bentley would review the bill.
"I'm not going to relax until Gov. Bentley signs it," Amy said.
While the CBD oil has seen encouraging results in reducing seizures, it's not a threat to produce a euphoric high despite the THC presence. In fact, Ball has joked that to get a high from the oil, you would have to drink so much you would get sick first.
Families who helped push through the passage of Leni's Law were at the Alabama State House on Wednesday. From left are Meggan Jackson of Lester and her son, Caden; Kari Forsyth of Athens and her daughter, Chesney; and Brittany Townsend of Hueytown and her daughter, Kenna. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)
As for the question of whether the Youngs would now return to Alabama, evidence suggests they might.
"We still own two homes there," Amy said. "We still have not sold them. We have one in Montgomery and one in Wetumpka. All of our children's grandparents and great-grandparents are in Alabama and some aunts and uncles. Our oldest daughter is still at Auburn. I am now beginning to make plans to be able to attend her graduation, which I didn't think was going to be a possibility (because Leni could not legally come to Alabama with the CBD oil she takes in Oregon).
"And she has gotten engaged. I have a wedding to plan. And we were wrestling with, 'Where are we going to have it?' That takes so much stress off me. Imagine the budget if I had to bring everyone to Oregon?"
Leni, who is 4 years old, is continuing to do well on the CBD oil in Oregon, her mom said. Leni has had six seizures since last September.
"From too many to count a day to six," Amy said.
Quality of life has improved as well. Amy said that the family went out to eat last week and, for the first time, Leni sat through the meal in a booster seat. She also ate a whole pancake.
Then there are the giggles.
"She makes me nervous when she giggles," Amy said. "She used to only giggle when she was having seizures. These awful seizures called gelastic seizures and with them would come the awful forced laughter.
"So I still kind of panic whenever she starts giggling. But then it's like, 'My little girl is happy.' Something will set her off and she will just start giggling."
Now Young is eager for friends in Alabama to share their stories with her - the friends who worked as soldiers on the ground in Montgomery to lobby the legislature to pass Leni's Law so their children can benefit without moving to Oregon.
"I cannot wait to be able to have these stories come back from people in Alabama," Amy said. "I can't wait until a year from now. So-and-so started talking or so-and-so started feeding themselves. I can't wait. It's going to happen."