(Bossier City, LA) Co-founder and Director of the Fight Like Emilie Foundation, Gordon “Trey” Gibson has been appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to serve on the newly created Louisiana Palliative Advisory Council. Gibson is currently awaiting confirmation from the Louisiana State Senate.
Gibson, who is an instructor of Leadership Studies at LSU Shreveport is the father of Emilie Gibson who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at age 9. Over the course of her 14-month fight, she received treatment in Shreveport, Memphis, San Francisco, and Houston, all while trying to be a normal little girl.
Gibson states, “During Emilie’s fight, we experienced palliative care, both for her, and for us as a family, from incredible people and at every place we went all the way up to the end. We know how important this is. I am deeply honored by this servant leadership opportunity to represent those with chronic illnesses, especially children and their families, on this council and will do my best to help.”
The Louisiana Palliative Advisory Council was established through legislation in the 2019 session. The American Cancer Society states, “Palliative care can provide better quality of life for cancer patients, and those with other chronic diseases, and their families by focusing on relieving the pain, stress and other symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment.”
Prior to the first meeting of the council, Gibson plans to use social media to reach out to families to gather stories about palliative care to share with members. If any families from Louisiana have a palliative care story they would like to share, please send a private message on Facebook to Trey Gibson.
