Tripp Halstead gets first progress report since rehab

ATLANTA — Doctors have provided Tripp Halstead's first progress report since he started rehabilitation one week ago.

The 2-year-old Winder boy has been fighting to recover after a brain injury he suffered in October, after a tree limb struck him on the head at the peak of Hurricane Sandy.

“I’m very impressed about how much they pack into a day. He is very busy from the time he gets up. Usually from 8:30 in the morning until the afternoon, it's  just go, go, go,” the child's mother, Stacey Halstead said.

The day-to-day fight to help Tripp get better is in full swing at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite. But his doctors still aren’t ready to fully assess his recovery.

"They mostly just talked about what he did this week and what he'll do next week. They still have given a real timeframe for what's going to happen or how much they think he'll recover. It's all very baby steps,” Halstead said.

However, doctors might be able to re-attach his skull next week. The portion of Tripp’s skull has been in a freezer since his accident.The skull procedure is not set in stone, but it's a good sign that swelling on Tripp’s brain is improving.

Halstead said every day therapists are stretching him out, helping regain strength to hold his head up, and teaching him to swallow.

She said Tripp has napped his way through much of therapy and when he's not asleep, he's often crying.

"It's pretty constant. So, that definitely wears you out. So, we take turns leaving and coming back in and out,” Halstead said.

She said his cries are heartbreaking to hear, but the doctors says it's good sign that Tripp is trying to communicate.

There was one setback this week when Tripp spiked a fever that forced doctors to remove his new casts. The casts are meant to keep Tripp's legs and feet in the right position preparing them for the day he'll walk again.

http://bcove.me/gs6l77ld

WSBTV