Heaven gained a saint on November 4, 2024. Heidi Fox Tripp, LCMHC and One80 team member since 2015 left us all too soon at the age of 48. She had battled brain tumors for several years prior and over the summer started to decline.
I met Heidi in August of 2015 after she had returned to NC from working out West. She had been working in an adolescent inpatient locally and along with several others found One80 and joined me in our first Cary office. Heidi became a close friend over time and we connected around so many shared interests. I watched her battle a food addiction that she overcame and lost over 100 pounds. She used this overcoming spirit to connect with her clients and really help them overcome their own struggles. Heidi found love with John Tripp and our very own Phil Guistwite had the honor of marrying the two. In June of 2018, Heidi began experiencing migraines so debilitating that one night her husband had to call 911. Scans quickly revealed a brain tumor and Heidi had her first brain surgery that month. She worked hard to recover from this major surgery and in 2020 Heidi, John, and her son Payton moved to TN. Heidi practiced with us remotely, still wanting to help others through therapy. Eventually, regrowth in the same area was discovered and she had yet another brain surgery. This past year even more complications began to arise and she completed her 3rd brain surgery. Sadly, she never was able to fully recover. Most recently the doctors discovered that there were now 3 tumors growing aggressively and Heidi’s overall health was declining. She just wasn’t strong enough to receive any invasive treatments. I was able to visit Heidi at UNC a little over a week ago. Barely able to keep her eyes open, she smiled when I whispered to her that our prayer group had prayed for her that morning.
Heidi was quick-witted and honest. In fact, just the other day Phil and I were chatting and he mentioned that one of the things he loved about Heidi was her honesty. Later that same day, I got a call from a very long-time client of Heidi’s who desperately wanted to know if Heidi was going to be okay. This client told me that she had been checking obituaries to see if her therapist was still alive. That was a hard phone conversation. I did tell the client what was going on with Heidi. I knew Heidi would want her to know and not be in constant worry. This client told me “You know what I loved most about Heidi? Her honesty. She always challenged me and was very honest with me”. A theme. I can concur. Heidi was an honest person. Direct with her opinion and thoughts, but always cushioned with a kindness and loving tone. I believe Heidi would want me to be honest with you all too. She wasn’t afraid of dying. She did tell her mom last month that she wasn’t sure she was ready to die, but she wasn’t afraid. Heidi loved Jesus and followed his teachings closely. Heidi knew that this earth wasn’t her final destination. Heidi would want me to be honest with you and say that she knew her final destination would be an eternity in heaven. She would want me to be honest and tell you that especially these days, if you fear death, you don’t have to. There is an answer to that fear and his name is Jesus.
I’ll miss my friend. We chatted by phone several times a month, until she was unable to speak. She always wanted to know what was going on with One80 and hoped we’d open in TN one day. I’ll miss hearing her on our prayer calls we do on Friday mornings.
Farewell, dear friend. I’ll be seeing you on the other side ~ SC
Miss Me – But Let Me Go
Author Anonymous
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little- but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me- but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends that we know.
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me- but let me go.
Be Well,
