Five years ago, Stacy Halstead got a call no mother should ever have to receive: A tree limb had fallen on her 2-year-old son Tripp's head during a freak accident at his daycare. For the Halsteads, life changed in an instant.
As the blue-eyed toddler fought for months to survive, people all over the country started to follow along and root for his recovery.
5 years later, Tripp continues to inspire us with his progress.
Here's a look back at some of the major ups and downs during Tripp's recovery, as told through the family's Facebook page, Tripp Halstead Updates:
October 29, 2012: Tripp is critically injured when a tree limb falls on his head at his daycare:
November 6, 2012: Doctors tell the Halstead family they believe Tripp will survive:
November 20, 2012: Tripp is transferred to Scottish Rite for rehab:
February 6, 2013: Doctors set an initial "going home" date for Tripp, but it is short-lived:
February 14, 2013: A second disaster strikes: After undergoing a surgery to insert a pump to administer medications,Tripp is diagnosed with a potentially-deadly infection, bacterial meningitis. All his progress is lost and he has multiple surgeries over 5 weeks:
March 29, 2013: Tripp is finally released from the hospital 5 months after the accident that nearly claimed his life:
April 1, 2013: Tripp is re-admitted to the hospital with a fever 2 days after being released. On April 5th, he has surgery to have his gallbladder removed:
April 9, 2012: Tripp and family head home again:
July 13th, 2013: Sunshine on a Ranney Day steps in to renovate a new home for the family to accommodate Tripp's needs:
November 2, 2015: Tripp speaks for the first time since the accident:
May 11, 2016: Tripp has a successful surgery to repair the dent in his head:
July 31, 2017: Tripp starts first grade:
September 12, 2017: Tripp turns 7!