Week 5 Winner: Paul Gibson
The competitive side of
Bell (Hurst)
baseball coach Paul Gibson causes him to initially rate the 2013
regular season as a disappointment, based on his Blue Raiders' 14-17-1
record.
A coach doesn't win eight district titles in 20 seasons without high expectations.
Paul Gibson, Bell
File photo by Lonnie Erickson
But
factoring in Gibson's ongoing 12-month battle against a disease that
afflicts only one in 8 million, the coach concedes, "I'm just lucky to
be here.''
Bell's baseball team took a page in determination from
its head coach, putting together a late-season six-game winning streak
to secure a postseason appearance.
A 5-1 win over Nimitz
(Irving) on April 22, career win No. 399 (against 232 losses) for
Gibson, helped the Blue Raiders secure the No. 4 playoff berth from
District 6-5A.
A team that began the season with little returning
experience and a lot of youthful faces, Bell will face District 5-5A
champion Flower Mound in a best-of-three bi-district playoff series
starting on Thursday.
In recognition for leading Bell to its 13th
playoff appearance in 20 seasons despite severe physical challenges,
Gibson was selected the High Yield Coach of the Week presented by
Capital One Bank.
It took visits to a succession of specialists
last spring to determine Gibson had developed amyloidosis, a rare
life-threatening disease in which abnormal proteins build up in organs
and cause them to fail. No cure exists, but the disease can be
controlled.
Cramping in his calves followed by kidney problems
and a general lack of energy were the initial symptoms for the
49-year-old. Happily, the disease was diagnosed in an early stage.
Last July, he received a first round of chemotherapy and a transplant
of his own stem cells at the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
The L.D. Bell community sent the coach to Minnesota with a prayer vigil and later a fundraiser to help with medical expenses.
Fellow coaches like
Richland (North Richland Hills) head
baseball coach Chuck Wells have rallied support: "Paul Gibson has
influenced kids lives on and off the field. He has influenced me since I
became a head coach six years ago. He continues to compete every day
and does not like to take credit for anything.''
In November, a Mayo Clinic checkup revealed that more chemo would be needed because the amyloid was not in total remission.
Gibson
wasn't feeling well enough to lead Bell's offseason workouts, but he
had extra incentive to return for the regular season. He wanted to coach
youngest son
Blake Gibson,
a senior third baseman. Gibson had previously coached elder son Bryce,
currently a 20-year-old student at the University of Texas.
Remarkably,
Gibson has not missed a practice all season. On game night, he has been
in his customary spot in the third base coaching box. However, a
concession to his stamina problem is more time than normal sitting in
the dugout.
"All of this has put a lot of things in
perspective,‘' Gibson said. "It has been a challenge for me from an
energy level, but I'm thankful I've been able to be there with Blake and
experience it. It hasn't been the greatest year, but we're in the
playoffs.''
Through it all, Cherie, his wife of 25 years, has been by the coach's side.
"I never took her for granted before all this,'' Gibson said, "and I really don't now.''
Gibson's religious faith has remained unwavering.
He even calls the experience a blessing because of the volume of support he has received.
"This
has happened for a reason and I make it a point to share my
testimony,'' Gibson said. "You know the Lord is using you for some
reason. It is a lot bigger than just me.''
