Story Photos
 Photo by Roger Werth Senior Gabe Triplett, 19, graduated from Rainier High School months after suffering serious head injuries in a car accident that took the life of his sister, Lola. |
Rebounding from tragedy that claimed his sister
Friday, June 11, 2004 7:10 AM PDT
By Venice Buhain
Printable version
E-mail this articleRAINIER -- A September car accident took a lot from Gabe Triplett: his memory, his athleticism and his sister. Yet, it didn't take his zest for life.
Three weeks into his senior year, Triplett lost control of his blue Pontiac Lemans as he drove his younger sister, Lola, and brother, Mitch, to Rainier High School. Mitch, now 16, suffered minor injuries sitting in the back seat. Lola and Gabe, both wearing seatbelts in the front seat, were gravely injured. Lola, 17, died of her injuries.
For three months Gabe battled back from serious head injuries in Portland hospitals and relearned to walk and talk.
Gabe retained his sense of humor and occasionally flashes his easy smile to his mother, Alice Triplett, to get her to answer hard questions. He is working to recover use of his right arm and leg, and he still struggles to remember what he hears.
"Oh, I'm glad you mentioned that," Gabe told a reporter, smiling. "It reminded me to read your lips."
In the five months since returning to Rainier from the accident, he has graduated with his class, was voted king at the winter dance, made the school's wrestling hall of fame and became the only senior to participate in track all four years.
"He always liked being active -- participating in everything," said Alice Triplett.
Before the accident, Gabe was a 3.0 to 3.49 student, played football, wrestled, ran track and participated in cheerleading and school musicals.
Gabe's long recovery and the loss of Lola -- an honors student, soccer player, track runner, and 4-H participant -- hit the school hard. Nevertheless, his teachers and friends said Gabe handled her death and his own injuries with the same grace and determination they've always seen in him.
"He always does his best with the hand he's dealt," track coach Brad Pinkstaff said. Gabe was a good sport even in elementary and middle school, he said.
"He was always a gentleman, win or lose," Pinkstaff said. "If he lost, he'd shake your hand and congratulate his opponent."
Pinkstaff initially proposed naming Gabe manager of the spring track team, like he had been for the winter wrestling team. Gabe didn't think so.
"I wanted to do track," Gabe said. "Pinkstaff said, 'We're going to have you do something really small.' But I wanted to do track."
Despite lingering problems with balance and coordination, Gabe started running. Gabe, who had run the 100-meter-dash in 12 seconds the previous season, clocked it at 32.2 seconds at first, Pinkstaff said. By the end of spring 2004, Gabe improved to 17.5 seconds.
Before the accident, "he wasn't the biggest, he wasn't the strongest, but no one worked harder or had more heart," said his senior social studies teacher, Dave Horgan, who also coached Gabe in football when he was a sophomore.
Gabe credits his Christian faith with helping him rebound. Friends, family and strangers also came to the aid of the Tripletts, but the family still is adjusting to life without Lola. When Alice and Gabe Triplett were asked about her, Gabe looked at his mom, who smiled and spoke gently.
"She was so talkative," she said. "It seems quieter without her around."
Gabe plans to attend Lower Columbia College in the fall. Despite his challenges, Gabe still thinks big.
"I want to be an inventor," he said.
What will he invent? Gabe grinned at his mom, who grinned back and repeated the question.
"Whatever comes to mind," he said, as they both started laughing.
Name: Gabe Triplett Age: 19
Hometown: Rainier
School: Rainier High School
Family: Parents, Alice Triplett of Rainier and Loren Triplett of Beaverton;
brother, Mitch, 16, and sisters, Erica Reed of Hawaii, and Lola, who died at 17.
Future Plans: Attend Lower Columbia College in the fall.
Favorite song: 'I like everything. I like country a lot. And I listened to
classical at night every night.'
Favorite Teacher: Dave Horgan, social studies. 'It seems like he's my only
teacher.'
In His Own Words:
If you could talk to anyone, living or dead, who would you talk to?
'I don't know. Elvis.'
What is your secret talent?
'I can kind of sing a little bit.'
The next time you open a fortune cookie, what should it say?
'You will miraculously be able to walk, run, sing, dance -- do anything you
want to.'
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