Over a thousand mourners clad in black and red gathered at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ponchatoula, La., last Wednesday to pay their final respects to Tripp Roth, a toddler whose struggle against the rare disease known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) has touched thousands around the world.

Roth was 32 months old at the time of his death on Saturday, Jan. 14; his funeral was held four days later on Jan. 18. According to Courtney Roth’s blog, “‘EB’ing A Mommy,” only one in two million are diagnosed with junctional EB, which causes blisters and skin erosions to form in response to any minor injury or friction on the skin. This reaction is caused by a missing protein that binds one layer of skin of tissue to another. While junctional EB most commonly affects skin tissue, it can also affect the mouth, esophagus, lungs, muscles, eyes, nails and even teeth.

Roth, Tripp’s mother, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness for EB by chronicling Tripp’s life on her blog.” One of Roth’s posts detailed the heartbreaking moments leading up to Tripp’s passing.

“It happened within minutes of me picking him up out of bed and rocking him,” Roth wrote. “He took his last peaceful breaths in my arms, in his most favorite spot. My heart literally hurts more than I ever thought was possible.”

Despite her grief, Roth wrote on her blog again, asking her readers to thank God for the peace he has given Tripp, now free of his painful condition.

The grief Roth felt at the passing of her son resonated not just with her hometown, but also with the campus of Southeastern. Emily McDonald, president of Sigma Sigma Sigma, and her sorority hosted a fundraiser for Tripp and his family in their philanthropic efforts last year.

“Every once in a while there is someone that comes along that teaches everyone around him or her a little bit more about life. Tripp was definitely a baby that touched so many lives just by living and sharing his inspiration,” said McDonald. “My heart goes out to their whole family, but I hope Courtney realizes the difference she made in the world by sharing Tripp’s story.”

Roth posted on Sunday the entire speech she gave at Tripp’s funeral as well as how she is coping after her son’s death.

“I know that my life will never be the same because of Tripp,” wrote Roth. “He is the most precious gift I’ve ever received.  I hope that he will continue to change the lives of so many people even though he is now in a far better place.  I hope now he will be watching over and taking care of me, because I now need all of the comfort and care I [can] get.”