Tree Through Roof Leaves Toddler w/ Severe Brain Injury. After Death, Mom Reveals 'New Normal'
Tripp Halstead, the courageous and inspirational little boy who fought for his life after a tree limb crushed his skull in 2012, has died. Tripp’s parents said they are “devastated,” and his millions of online followers are mourning the loss.
Tripp was just 2 years old when a tree limb fell on his head outside of his Georgia daycare. The incident left Tripp paralyzed and brain-damaged, but his infectious smile told the world he was still present and loving life.
Tripp’s parents, Bill and Stacy Halstead, had to find a “new normal,” after their son’s life-altering brain injury. Since that fateful day, their lives had been filled with hospitals, doctors, and therapies, as well as a huge community of supporters who cheered Tripp on every step of the way.
Now, the Halstead’s have to find another “new normal.” A normal marked by the heavy absence of their only child.
Stacy Halstead, who has faithfully kept up the Facebook page “Tripp Halstead Updates,” announced the heartbreaking news of Tripp’s passing on March 15.
“We are beyond devastated and honestly I believe I am in shock,” she wrote in part.
“I’m still processing everything,” Halstead wrote, adding that she and her husband were with Tripp when he passed at the hospital. “His little body was just done fighting this last infection. His little heart gave out,” she wrote.
The next few days were an overwhelming blur of being in survival mode. Halstead announced she would likely take a break from social media for awhile, but has still posted occasional words and thoughts of her shocking new life.
“It’s one week today since I said Goodbye to my sweet sweet baby boy,” she wrote on March 22. “It’s still not real.”
Stacy and her husband had taken a short getaway together and were gearing up to return home to a painfully empty house. “He’s not going to be there when we get home and the pain is so strong I’m having trouble breathing,” Stacy admitted.
The couple plans to start sifting through their boy’s belongings, giving what they can to charity or other children with medical needs like Tripp’s.
Stacy has mentioned several times that her family will not be setting up any type of fundraising account on Tripp’s behalf.
Cards of condolence and love have flooded the Halstead’s mailbox in the past week. The Halstead’s undoubtedly have a traumatic walk ahead, but they will not be alone.
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