1 year later, family hopeful about Tripp Halstead's recovery

ATLANTA, Ga. — Tuesday marks one year since a tree limb fell on Tripp Halstead, changing his life forever.

Channel 2's Erin Coleman caught up with the Winder boy and his family at the Georgia Aquarium today as they did their best to make the anniversary a good day.

One year ago, doctors didn't know if Tripp would even survive. Now, 365 days since a tree limb fell on his head outside his Winder day care, he visited one of his new favorite places.

"No one, the doctors or anything, expected him to make it, and the fact that he's here, he's enjoying the aquarium (means a lot)," said Tripp's mother Stacey Halstead.

Stacey and Bill Halstead said they were determined to make this a good day. But it's been a tough week for the whole family. Monday was particularly tough; one year ago, it was his last day before the accident.

"That was my day yesterday. We looked at all our pictures before the accident; our vacations, the things he did, the way he interacted, the way he talked," said Stacey Halstead.

Tripp's grandmother Connie Hughes also weighed in on Tripp's recovery.

"We try not to compare too much because it just -- you can't. It just tears you up emotionally to think about what we lost and how far we have to go. But then the opposite of that is the fact that he did survive; he fought so hard to be here, so how on earth could we give up on him?" she said.

Now 3 years old, Tripp is blinking his eyes, trying to smile, and just recently, he started moving his legs on his own.

"If you tickle his feet he pulls away from you, so that's funny," said his father Bill Halstead.

"I'm so proud of him and he's come so far, but I honestly think he's going much further. So we're not giving up," said Stacey Halstead.

Tripp has gotten support and prayers from around the world. His family believes this is just the beginning.

WSBTV