Halsteads to sell home as Tripp recovers

WINDER, Ga. — The parents of a critically injured 2-year-old said they now face another challenge.

They said their Winder home is no longer suitable for their son, Tripp Halstead, because of his injury and his therapy needs.

Despite all the happy memories, Bill Halstead said it's just one more part of their lives that will have to change. He's hoping to list the home for sale as soon as possible.

"They're set up fine for a person with unlimited mobility, but with him, we just want to think ahead and make things as easy for him as possible," Halstead said.

Bill Halstead walked Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh through the home to show how it's just not workable for a child with special needs.

For the past two months, Channel 2 Action News has monitored Tripp's recovery.

Winds from Hurricane Sandy snapped a tree limb behind his day care in late October, which struck Tripp's head and left him with a serious brain injury.

"We know he's going to come home in a chair and he's going to come home with a feeding tube. It's not just the mobility aspect. It's also bathing and stuff," Halstead said.

In the home, tight corners on the first floor lead to an equally tight and winding staircase that takes you to the second floor.

The bathrooms and bedrooms are all upstairs, including the bedroom Bill Halstead had just designed for Tripp 10 days before the accident.

The entire room looks like one big scene from Tripp's favorite movie, "Cars."

"I've actually only been here once since the thing happened and it's definitely hard to be in here," Halstead said.

He said Tripp's bedroom will be the hardest room to leave behind. But he said he can create it again in a new home that's more suitable for Tripp and his needs.

Halstead said he hopes a new house will have an area where they can create a therapy room for Tripp.

Halstead said he's in the process of contacting realty agents and hopes to list the current home soon.

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WSBTV