PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE W. PHOTOGRAPHY
We met Stacy and Bill Halstead in the fall of 2012, and were immediately touched and inspired by their story. Together with their extended family, they are proving to be an amazing pillar of strength for their young son, Tripp.
Stacy and Bill met in Asheville NC in 2006 and married the following year. Difficulty in getting pregnant led them fertility specialists and soon Stacy learned that their efforts were successful. Feeling tremendously blessed, Stacy and Bill cherished every moment they spent with their thriving baby boy. Hopes to give Tripp a sibling were dashed after the devastating miscarriage of a daughter they named Ella Mary. Shortly thereafter they learned that their window of opportunity for bearing more children was becoming increasing small. After overcoming their loss, Stacy and Bill immersed themselves in providing Tripp the best they could offer. Their family was complete.
On Monday, October 29, 2012 life changed irrevocably for Tripp, and Stacy, and Bill. The day began as just another typical day. They dropped Tripp off at daycare, kissing him goodbye and reminding him how much they loved him, then continued on to work. Later that morning, while playing in the yard, high winds whipped unexpectedly through the neighborhood of the daycare center. A huge tree limb snapped in a gust and, tragically, fell directly onto Tripp’s head.
He was rushed to Winder-Barrow Hospital then flown to Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. Emergency surgery revealed that the impact of the tree limb had shattered Tripp’s skull into multiple pieces. His prognosis was poor and Stacy and Bill were told to brace for the worst. Miraculously, Tripp survived that initial surgery and several that immediately followed. The next several months were like an out-of-control rollercoaster - physically for him, and emotionally for Stacy and Bill.
Tripp is proving to be quite a fighter as he endures innumerable obstacles and surgeries. The road ahead is full of challenges. Doctors remain unsure of the extent of Tripp’s brain injury and his prognosis is uncertain. However, Stacy and Bill's faith is unshakeable and within the year began preparations to bring Tripp home.
With a new (to them) ranch-style house purchased, Bill started planning a wheel-chair accessible remodel. It was around this time that Sunshine on a Ranney Day heard about his ambitions and stepped in to assist. With the goal of making the entire house Tripp friendly - we totally gutted the interior and started, basically, from scratch. We transformed a conventional house into a comfortable, functional, and fully-accessible home with a spacious open floor-plan. Hundreds of volunteers, businesses and sponsors supported and assisted in making this dream become a reality. We are also very thankful for all the generous monetary donations. We connected with people around the world who are touched by Tripp's story and by our mission.
BEFORE A LITTLE SUNSHINE...
AFTER SUNSHINE!
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!
Ideal Interiors & Ideal Development Concepts
General Contractor- Danny Phillips
Crosby Design Group- Jennifer Crosby
WSB-TV - Over 1.6 million people watched the reveal live on WSB-TV live stream!
Electronics
Best Buy
Financial Advisor for Stacy and Bill
Gratus Capital Management
Fireplace Logs
Real Fyre Premium Gas Logs
Rutherford Equipment
Fireplace Materials
Boral Bricks
Flooring Material
Mohawk
Framers
W.G Yates & Sons Construction Company
Furniture
Rooms To Go
Real Deals Furniture
Garage door
Overhead Door Company of Atlanta
Gas Log Fireplace
Folger Gas, LLC
Glass & Mirrors
Echols Glass & Mirror
Green Egg Grill
Roswell Hardware
Gutter
Leafguard
Handicap Accessible Walk-In Shower
Bath Fitter
Hardware
United Supply Company
Magbee Contractors Supply
Heating & Air
All Temp Heating & Air Conditioning
Clover Enterprises
Lennox
Hospital Bed
Carmichael Drugs
TenderCare Beds
Hospitality on Demolition Day
JCCHS Panther Football Team
HVAC unit
Peachtree Heating & Air Conditioning
HVAC Installation
One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning
Kitchen Remodel
Ideal Interiors
Kitchen Appliances
Guy Gunter and Associates
Aaron's
Landfill Donation
Gainesville Waste and Recycling
Landscaping
Selective Designs
Triple A Landscaping
678-618-2252
Lighting - Accent Lighting
Progressive Lighting
Pioneer Lighting
Light Switches
Lutron Electronics
Lumber
Suwanee Lumber Company
Universal Forest
Accounting
Jones and Kolb
Bakery
Simply Sweet Bakery
Blinds/Shutters
Castleberry Shutters
Can Lights and Trim
Pioneer Lighting & Home Decor, Inc.
Car Repair
AAMCO
Ceiling Tile Art
Olee Creative
Chairlifts
Blue Moose Elevators
Mac's Lift Gate, Inc.
FODAC
Belgard Hardscapes
C.H.Robinson
Cleaning
Sparkle-Pro
Concrete Supply
Vulcan Materials Company
Construction
Meridian Restoration
Ideal Development Concepts
Automated Manufacturing Solutions
Ryerson Steel
Mosteller Construction
Cornhole Boards
Cornhole Southeast
Custom Bar Unit
Woodcraft Unlimited
A Polished Finish
Custom Cabinetry
Gordon Custom Cabinetry
Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios
JPS Custom Cabinets
Old Federal Millworks
Custom Drapery
Blindworks Inc.
Alexandra Accents
Deck Awning
Atlanta Awning Company
Decks Construction
AGC Young Leadership Program
Deck, Porch, Wheelchair Ramp materials
PMC Building Materials
Universal Forest Products
US Lumber
TREX
DJ for Reveal Day
Foamshark DJ Services
Dumpsters
Nix Tank Company
Advance Disposal
Ideal Development Concepts
Drywall; Materials and Installation
BMK Construction & Engineering
LW Supply
ETL Construction
Drapery
Fabric & Fringe Warehouse
Electrical
Mr. Sparky Electric
Make-over T-shirts and hats
Rease Promotional Products
Meals for Volunteers on Demo Day
Dairy Queen Jefferson, Kroger, CVS Jackson County store employees, Publix Hoschton
Miscellaneous Donations
Pizza Hut
Kohls
Music / Entertainment at Reveal
Reckless Dawn
Painting
Painting Plus
Sherman Williams
Gainesville Design Center
Pest Control
A&E Pest Control
Plumbing
Larry Mitchell Plumbing, Inc
Plumbing Supplies
Gainesville Winnelson Company
Plumbing Distributors
Pool Table Services
Dobbs Billiard Service Inc
Portable Restrooms
Nix Tank Company
Printing
Burman Printing
Reveal Day Entertainment
Entertainment Design Group, Inc
Roofing Materials
ABC Supply Company
Roofing Installation
Zone Home Solutions
Rugs
Artistic Weavers
Security system
Ackerman Security
Shuttle Service for Reveal Day
Hennessy Transportation
Siding - New
OutsideImage
Painting Plus, Inc.
First Choice Vinyl Siding
Siding Repairs
All South Restoration
Stonework materials
Specialty Stone Supply
Tile
Interceramic
Builders Floor & Tile
Tree Trimming
Downey Trees, Inc.
Wall Decals
BSN Graphics
Window Replacement/Installation
Hassle-Free Window and Door Co., LLC
Window Supplier
Simonton Windows
Yard Maintenance
All Star Landscapes & Lawn Care