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Tripp Halstead begins recovery at Scottish Rite

ATLANTA — Tripp Halstead, 2, began his rehabilitation Wednesday after suffering a traumatic brain injury behind a Winder day care three weeks ago.

Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh obtained paperwork from the Department of Early Care and Learning that said it found no violations at the day care in relation to Tripp's accident.

A large sign hangs in front of the Cribs to Crayons day care in Winder. It asks passersby to pray for the 2-year-old critically injured there in late October.

Winds from Hurricane Sandy snapped a tree limb that struck Tripp's head. It left him with a traumatic brain injury.

As is protocol, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning immediately opened an investigation into the accident.

The state emailed Kavanaugh Wednesday and said that the investigation was closed.

"Our investigation has found there were no violations of the Rules for Child Care Learning Centers associated with this incident," the statement said.

Kavanaugh brought the findings to Tripp's dad, Bill Halstead, who remains at Tripp's side as he continues his recovery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

"We don't blame them in any way. Like we said, if he were home with us that day, he would have been outside playing, too," Bill Halstead said.

The Halsteads have said that from the beginning, and they have instead focused all of their energy on Tripp's recovery.

Wednesday was day one of Tripp's rehab.

"They're mainly stretching him out, keeping him loose, trying to get the swallow reflex to start, and trying to get some of the muscles to engage themselves," Halstead said.

Halstead said there are some small, encouraging signs, even though Tripp was napping through most of them.

"Every time the girls would try to get him get to do something, he would just snore a little louder," Halstead said.

Still, he said it was good to see the therapists get Tripp up and moving as he continues his recovery.

Kavanaugh submitted an open -records request for the full investigation into the incident and expects to receive that after the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, Halstead said the family hopes therapists will provide a solid action plan for Tripp's recovery in one week.

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