Little Tripp Halstead isn’t old enough to read or use social media yet. But the 2-year-old has quite the following online, and a growing fan base that includes celebrities.
One week after being critically injured by a tree branch, Tripp got a “shout out” Monday from two characters in one of his favorite movies. Larry the Cable Guy, the voice of Tow Mater in the “Cars” animated movies, offered words of encouragement to the toddler on Twitter.
“Hey Tripp! It’s Mater! Like tuh mater without the tuh,” the actor wrote. “I hope you git well soon Lil buddy so we can do us some tractor tippin!”
And if that wasn’t cool enough, actor Owen Wilson, the voice of Lightning McQueen, left a voicemail for Tripp, the boy’s family said Monday night.
Tripp’s parents, Bill and Stacy Halstead, have been by the toddler’s side since Oct. 29, when he was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston to undergo emergency brain surgery. Tripp was on the playground at his Barrow County daycare center on an unusually windy day when a tree branch fell, hitting a fence before hitting the toddler in the head.
A week later, Tripp remains in critical condition. The family has seen an outpouring of support from across the country and continues to use Facebook to update more than 30,000 fans of the page.
From the side of his hospital bed, Tripp’s parents have been sharing words of encouragement and love, saying they believe the boy is hearing everything. But when his mom mentioned the Twitter message from “Tow Mater,” this time, there was a reaction.
“So all week, Bill and I are like ‘Tripp, mommy and daddy are here, we love you.’ No reaction,” Stacy Halstead posted on Facebook. “And the minute I tell him that Mater From the movie Cars (Larry the Cable Guy) posted a tweet and told him Hello and to get better, he moves!!”
The family has said the boy’s longterm prognosis is not known, but his doctors are encouraged by his progress so far. But there have been setbacks, including swelling, that have had Tripp’s relatives prepared for the worst. While in his hospital bed, his parents placed one of his many Lighting McQueen toys in his hand.
For more updates on Tripp, visit Tripp Halstead Updates on Facebook.
(Editor’s note: Tripp’s favorite character is actually “Lightning McQueen,” star of the “Cars” movies. But the family says its appreciative for all the well wishes and prayers, even those from Tow Mater.)
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