Miracle Man

On May 7, Tripp Nichols and his family will celebrate the end of a long, trying year in which the baby boy from Chelsea overcame odds again and again.

Born without complication in May 2012, Tripp began suffering from chronic seizures soon after his birth. His epilepsy has caused vision impairment and developmental issues, yet no doctor has been able to diagnose Tripp’s seizure disorder. Doctors told Tripp’s parents that he wouldn’t live to his first birthday.

“It’s hard when you wake up every morning to be positive,” Jessica, Tripp’s mother, said. “It’s hard to watch him hurt. We know what he’s missing out on, so it’s hard for us not to create a handicap for him.”

Jessica and her husband, Nick, have done everything in their power to help their son improve, but they knew early on that their efforts alone would never be enough.

The Nichols family makes regular trips to Memphis, Tenn., to visit the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Tripp has also been to South Carolina, where a young girl with a similar undiagnosed condition lives.

“We don’t have a date set, but one of the leading doctors in optic nerve hypoplasia [Tripp’s eye condition] at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles has agreed to see Tripp and evaluate him,” Jessica said.

At home, Jessica and Tripp stay busy, going to occupational and physical therapy sessions several times a week.

“I was going to be a stay-at-home mom for a few years,” Jessica said. “Now that’s permanent because he requires 24-hours-a-day care.”

In addition to Tripp’s many professional supporters, Nick and Jessica have received emotional and financial support from family, the city of Chelsea and an ever-growing online community.

“It’s been a blessing for my husband to have our church [Chelsea Community Church] support,” Jessica said.

The Chelsea community has been a source of financial help. Several local businesses have set up donation jars, and the Nichols’ church hosted a benefit concert in April with all proceeds going to Tripp’s medical expenses.

The Facebook page “Tripp’s Journey” is approaching 7,600 likes. Jessica updates the page several times daily and has been overwhelmed at times by the support of its followers.

“We created Tripp’s Journey to update family and friends because I couldn’t return phone calls and emails fast enough,” Jessica said. “It kind of took off from there. It blows my mind because it was made for 30 to 40 people.”

Above all else, the Nichols family has relied on their faith to pull through the darkest times in their experience with Tripp.

“God is truly what has gotten us through,” Jessica said. “The reason that Tripp’s still here is because of prayer. God works miracles every day. You can’t know Tripp and not believe in miracles and in Jesus Christ.”

After many trying days and nights, things are looking up for Tripp. His seizures are no longer as frequent as they were. His therapists have been helping his development progress.

In April he passed a swallow study and started to learn to eat without his feeding tube. His parents hope to be able to take the tube out just in time for his birthday, so he can have a little birthday cake. 

“He’s progressing, he’s learning and he’s doing remarkably well,” Jessica said. “He’s a miracle man.”

To learn more or support Tripp and the Nichols family, visit facebook.com/TrippsJourney.