by Maria Postmus –

Tripp David Postmus was a healthy, happy, love-giving, 9 year old when he began having headaches.  After one major headache, and the anxiety of Chad having an aunt who had a brain tumor, we brought Tripp to the doctor.  The doctor determined that Tripp was seeing double and arranged for an appointment with his eye doctor later that day.  Three days later, the MRI would confirm the doctor’s theories, Tripp had a brain tumor, the size of a tennis ball in his brain, the 4th ventricle.  When we received the call, the doctor asked how Tripp was doing.  We responded, riding his rip stick and shooting basketballs…  Yup- he was incredible.

I remember telling the surgeon that night, “Don’t wreck him.” I can’t imagine the emotions a surgeon feels going into the brain surgery of a child- knowing that they will mostly likely come out changed in some way.  Tripp changed, his physical ability changed.  He had to relearn how to walk and talk again, but what never went away was his desire to love- love those around him, and his love for Jesus was already obvious.

When Tripp was 8, we watched a movie, “Ring the Bell.”  When someone gave their life to Jesus, they rang a bell.  Tripp asked that night to metaphorically ring the bell and I will never forget being able to pray with my child as he asked Jesus into his heart! 

Tripp rang many bells on his 5 year fight against Medulloblastoma, but none as important as this one.  When he publicly professed his faith when he was 12, we once again (thanks to his mentor- Don) rang bells.

Tripp’s journey through cancer brought him many places.  We were originally treated in Sioux Falls at Sanford Children’s Hospital, then we progressed to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN for proton radiation and to begin his chemotherapy regimen.  After relapse, we went back to Mayo Clinic to begin what could only be treatment via trials.  We eventually progressed to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN, and finally, Texas Children’s Medical Center in Houston.  When the decision was made, ultimately by Tripp to keep fighting and try another trial, Tripp would make the comment, “I get to tell more people about Jesus.” He loved people, and he loved telling them about his Jesus.

Up until Tripp’s last month, he bounced back from every treatment, every surgery, every trial like a champ!  He was strong.  Tripp was given a plaque in his initial hospital stay that reminded him to “Be Bold and Courageous” Joshua 1:9, and he took that to heart.  It was a very rare thing to hear him complain, to be frustrated or to say, “This Sucks” (March 2022).  He took his treatments in stride, trusting his parents to make decisions for him until he could, and trusted his Jesus’ promised that one day he would get to go to heaven.  Cancer did not win.

In September 2021, Tripp was told that he had 8-12 months yet to live, if he chose to not do treatment.  He seriously contemplated what to do, but ultimately made the decision to try one more trial, the CAR-T Cells in Houston.  This was his only option at beating cancer- and he decided to take it.  He brought joy to the BMT Floor- sharing “I Love Your Face” with whomever entered his room. What they have learned from Tripp in this trial is now successfully being used for other children- to God be the glory! 

March 16, Tripp and his friend, Pastor Chris, chatted in a recorded video.  This priceless treasure documented Tripp’s love for other people, and in response to the question about one thing he’d like others to know about God, “If your needing a friend, God’s the perfect one, for a friend.”  

On March 21, we had the heart wrenching task of telling Tripp that the doctors did not have any more options for him- that he would not be on this world very much longer.  Tripp’s response?  “I get to see God?!”  and often rubbed it into us that he got to go to heaven first.  Cancer did not win.

Tripp’s positive attitude, his love for those around him, and concern for his friends to love Jesus too, radiated out of him.  As my friend Maria, (yes, another Maria 😊) said, “All you need is 5 minutes with this kid- and you get it).  Tripp was a gift to this world and to the world around him. Tripp’s friends coined the phrase, “#Be Like Tripp” so we added, “Because he loved like Jesus” to clarify.  Caleb came up with his own in reference to his brother, “Be Strong and Courageous and let your smile be Contagious”.  Tripper’s smile was just that, contagious.  Cancer did not win.

Tripp breathed his last at home on April 9, 2022.  He was considered a Survivor- 5 years and 7 days from diagnosis.  And he was- cancer did not win.  As we, his family, had to say goodbye, we are now processing what it means to grieve, and to continue telling Tripp’s legacy, to continue where he left off- telling people about Jesus.  Our theme for youth group this year, which I have the honor of leading, is Apologetics- the study of Proof of God, Jesus, the Bible and all that is part of the Christian faith.  This has been a blessing for us as grieving parents, brother, to understand and know the ‘facts’ when our grief threatens to overwhelm us.  God is the same, yesterday and forever- and He will overcome.  One day, we will get to worship Jesus, hand in hand with Tripp.

This past weekend, March 17-19, as we anxiously look ahead to missing Tripp for an entire year, our family retreated to Healing Hope Ministries, to be refreshed, to affirm that we were on the same page in our grief.  We learned to lean into our grief- to face it head on, and to never stop talking about Tripp- even when it’s awkward- until it’s not awkward.  As many Tripper’ism’s we get to share, his quirky one-liners, and stories of God’s goodness- we will never, not have anything to say😊. 

Overwhelmed. Was a word that surrounded those first six months after diagnosis.  We are ever constantly overwhelmed by the love we were shown than and even still- love that made this journey possible- to keep the faith, and trusting that God was in control. Cancer did not win.