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Tripp Halstead makes it through surgery

The Winder boy, in the hospital since being hit in the head by a falling tree limb back in October, has made it through yet another surgery.

The parents of Tripp Halstead say the 2-year-old is now recovering after having emergency surgery. He was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis earlier in the week, forcing doctors to take him off all medical devices.

"I directly asked the doctor if he thought it was life-threatening, and he said, 'yes, at this moment,'" Tripp's mother, Stacy Halstead, tells Channel 2 Action News. "But they do think he'll pull through. It's just very dangerous."

Tripp has been in the hospital since he was hit by a falling tree limb during Superstorm Sandy in October.  Thursday doctors had to perform emergency surgery to remove a shunt and a pump.

"Words can't describe what we are feeling except total heartbreak. Please pray. We need every one of you to pray that he makes it through this surgery," the family posted on Facebook.

Right before Christmas, Stacy and Bill Halstead says Tripp was finally starting to look like himself again after that shunt was put in to relieve excess fluid on his brain.

Around Thanksgiving Tripp began therapy. Because of the swelling on his brain, therapists were helping him regain strength to hold up his head and were teaching him to swallow.

The Halsteads are selling their home because it would not be accessible to the boy.

"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," Mr. Halstead said.

The Halsteads have received an outpouring of support from the community since the accident. Numerous fundraisers have raised money to help the family with their medical bills.

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