Tripp Halstead to Undergo Hip Surgery in January

Tripp Halstead, who suffered severe brain injuries in October of 2012, will undergo hip surgery in January. He was critically injured when a tree limb fell on him outside his Winder day care center and spent months recovering at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. 

"The tree only landed on his head but it crushed his little brain which controls everything in his body," said Stacy Halstead on Sunday. "So yes, the injury caused all these other issues. So we are slowly tackling all the damaged parts trying to put him back together again. 

At a doctor's appointment on Monday, the Halsteads learned Tripp's hip is more than 65 degrees out of socket and he will have surgery on both hips in the middle of January. Both hips are bad but one is much worse, according to his mother. 

"He will not need more hip surgeries in the future," Halstead said. We know it's the right thing to do." 

Tripp's surgery will last roughly 6-7 hours and will include: cutting and lengthening his tendons, cutting the femur bone and using it in his hip socket and three incisions on each side. Tripp's mother said recovery will take about 10 weeks. 

Halstead said she was nervous for the doctor's appointment on Monday, but knows it's inevitable because physically she can see Tripp's body getting more uncomfortable. 

"Thank you for all your prayers and support. This is just another step towards his full recovery."