Amanda Simmons
Ten-year-old Emilie Gibson will always be remembered for her sass, free spirit and love of crazy hats.
Trey and Candi Gibson of Bossier City described their daughter as playful and kind of a goofball, often wearing bold colors and crazy patterns in public without the slightest hesitation. They admit that it was a little crazy sometimes, but it truly made Emilie happy.
Her smile could light up an entire room. It’s one thing her family and friends will miss most about her.
Emilie lost her battle with cancer Oct. 31, following an almost 14-month long battle with a deadly brain tumor. She was diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) in September 2016 and fought it from the very beginning.
Emilie bravely faced several surgeries, radiation treatments without sedation and countless needle sticks, all with a “just do it” attitude. Through it all, she continued to laugh, play and live a normal life as much as possible.
Emilie’s family and friends are deeply saddened by her loss, but it’s the legacy she’s left behind that gives them hope. The Gibsons have donated Emilie’s brain to researchers in Washington, D.C., with the hope they they will study the tumor and find ways to fight DIPG.
Through the last year of her life, Trey and Candi say Emilie never let cancer define her. Even in her last days, Emilie was still spreading smiles and laughter to all.
“Her toughness, strategic mind, and ability to adapt is what got her through her battle with cancer.” they wrote on their Facebook page. “She fought with courage, humor, and a lot of sass.”
Anyone who wishes to make a donation in Emilie’s memory can send it to the PNOC Foundation (pnocfoundation. org), The Michael Mosier Foundation (defeatdipg. org), Texas Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or any cancer research charity of choice to aid in the fight against the devastation that is childhood cancer and especially DIPG.
