#TheBeatGoesOn
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Thank you for visiting our page. This is the story of my brother-in-law, Lanny Tyrone (“Ty”) Tripp, who has been a lineman with CenterPoint Energy for 15 years. He suffered one of the greatest fears all linemen face regularly on August 18, 2009 when he was struck by lightning.
Now, the career he loves is over, and he is faced with the terrifying prospect of being unable to support his family. The doctors have given this single father of 3 only ten years to live.
Please take a moment to read Ty’s story, and send him your support. He needs your prayers, your encouragement, and every dollar we can give to provide for his medical care, his expenses, and his children’s futures. Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your support.
Ty’s Story:
It was a hot August day in Southeast Texas on August 18th when myself the other centerpoint linemen I was working with that day were dispatched to a neighborhood in Magnolia, TX. We were tasked with taking the slack out of a line that had been put in by a contractor. Every time the wind would blow, the lines would get together and take out the power. We were expecting a storm that afternoon and another head linemen had removed and tagged the fuse barrel, making it safe for us to ground the line and work safely between grounds per regulation. I was operating a double bucket truck with my head linemen (name to be kept private) in the opposite bucket. We began our work, had the #2 wire in jacks and the storm was right on top of us. In no time, we were soaked. Almost immediately we looked at each other and verbally agreed to get the job done and get the power back on for the customers. I remember a few pops of lightening and then a flash and a jolt as I had both hands on the wire in wet leather gloves. I really don’t remember much else that day besides coming into a house under construction and EMT’s working on me.
Since that day I have had 2 heart attacks. Now, at age 41, I’ve had 6 surgeries on my heart, and I go in on 9/8/14 to see if I will be eligible for a pacemaker or defibrillator. I’ve had a loop recorder implanted into my chest since 10/31/13, which records what my heart does, it’s beats per minute, and low heart rate or high heart rate. The doctor sees the read out from the loop recorder and makes decisions about how to treat my heart. Because the severity of damage done to my heart, my heart rate drops down into the 20s BPM, I get light-headed and pass out. So far, I have passed out getting up from the kitchen table, I have broken 2 teeth and wrecked my truck into a lake. Recently, I had my long term disability and insurance taken away and have had to submit an appeal.
I have been given 10 years to live by my cardiologist. At the age 41, if he’s right, I am going to miss seeing my kids grow up, go to college, get married and have kids. I think I would make an awesome grandpa. More than anything, I would like to see that day come.
Lanny T. Tripp
Now, the career he loves is over, and he is faced with the terrifying prospect of being unable to support his family. The doctors have given this single father of 3 only ten years to live.
Please take a moment to read Ty’s story, and send him your support. He needs your prayers, your encouragement, and every dollar we can give to provide for his medical care, his expenses, and his children’s futures. Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your support.
Ty’s Story:
It was a hot August day in Southeast Texas on August 18th when myself the other centerpoint linemen I was working with that day were dispatched to a neighborhood in Magnolia, TX. We were tasked with taking the slack out of a line that had been put in by a contractor. Every time the wind would blow, the lines would get together and take out the power. We were expecting a storm that afternoon and another head linemen had removed and tagged the fuse barrel, making it safe for us to ground the line and work safely between grounds per regulation. I was operating a double bucket truck with my head linemen (name to be kept private) in the opposite bucket. We began our work, had the #2 wire in jacks and the storm was right on top of us. In no time, we were soaked. Almost immediately we looked at each other and verbally agreed to get the job done and get the power back on for the customers. I remember a few pops of lightening and then a flash and a jolt as I had both hands on the wire in wet leather gloves. I really don’t remember much else that day besides coming into a house under construction and EMT’s working on me.
Since that day I have had 2 heart attacks. Now, at age 41, I’ve had 6 surgeries on my heart, and I go in on 9/8/14 to see if I will be eligible for a pacemaker or defibrillator. I’ve had a loop recorder implanted into my chest since 10/31/13, which records what my heart does, it’s beats per minute, and low heart rate or high heart rate. The doctor sees the read out from the loop recorder and makes decisions about how to treat my heart. Because the severity of damage done to my heart, my heart rate drops down into the 20s BPM, I get light-headed and pass out. So far, I have passed out getting up from the kitchen table, I have broken 2 teeth and wrecked my truck into a lake. Recently, I had my long term disability and insurance taken away and have had to submit an appeal.
I have been given 10 years to live by my cardiologist. At the age 41, if he’s right, I am going to miss seeing my kids grow up, go to college, get married and have kids. I think I would make an awesome grandpa. More than anything, I would like to see that day come.
Lanny T. Tripp
Organizer
Jamie Tripp
Organizer
