WEEDSPORT -- Tripp Halstead's family was told they had to say their final goodbyes last Friday, but the two-year-old boy who was hit by a tree during Hurricane Sandy fought, and now doctors expect him to survive.
Tripp Halstead was playing at his day care in Winder, Georgia on October 29th, when the winds of Hurricane Sandy brought a limb of a nearby tree right on his head, causing brain damage. After emergency surgery, doctors at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston induced him into a coma. After a tough week, Tripp began to improve, and on Thursday, the doctors felt confident enough to let Tripp breath without help. He struggled, but the family is still encouraged by his improvement since the accident happened.
"We've been on cloud nine all day as far as that news," Tripp's father Bill Halstead says. "Once [the doctor] told us that...awesome."
While his community in Georgia hopes for his improvement, Tripp also has family ties here in Central New York...hoping for the same. Tripp's father Bill graduated from Weedsport High School, and his great uncle Dan Humberstone still lives in Weedsport today.
Humberstone is starting his own movement here in Central New York. With the help of Farmboy Graphic, Humberstone created shirts and signs with Tripp's picture and slogan "team boom". A family friend also contributed wooden blocks with Tripp's picture and favorite movie character Lightning McQueen from Cars. Humberstone says the shirts and blocks cost $10 or whatever someone is willing to pay, while the signs cost $16.
Humberstone says he has received an overwhelming response already, which has become a big part of Tripp's recovery.
"It's so remarkable," Humberstone says. "It touches our family where we're at the point where we're in awe, because we can't believe it's happening. Something good will definitely come out of this."
In addition to the communities, celebrities such as Owen Wilson, who plays Tripp's favorite character in Cars, Larry the Cable Guy, who plays Tow Mater in Cars and music group Rascal Flatts all have contacted Tripp and his family in support.
Humberstone says 100 percent of the money donated will go to Tripp's recovery efforts and if you want to donate to contact him at dbhumberstone@yahoo.com.
In addition to frequent updates on Tripp's status, the Facebook page, Tripp Halstead Updates,also has a PayPal link.
