Lafayette mother speaks about losing her son to fentanyl

Brandy Girouard says living without her son has been one of the hardest experiences she has endured. Gage Smith, 25, died on Oct. 2 from a fentanyl overdose.

“We're heartbroken. Loving an addict, you always know this could be your reality, but you never think it’s going to be you,” Girouard said.

Girouard said she received a call in September that Smith had suffered an apparent fentanyl overdose. He was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Lafayette but died days later. His funeral was held Oct. 7. Girouard said her family misses Gage deeply and is trying to navigate life without him.

“We're just trying to figure out a reality where he's not here. I don’t know what that looks like yet. It's been 10 days since he's gone, and sometimes it feels like yesterday, and sometimes it feels like it’s been years,” Girouard said.

Smith is survived by his fiancée, Jordan Gill, and their two daughters, Blakeleigh and Emberleigh Smith. Despite the heartache, Girouard said there is peace in knowing that Gage is in a better place. She described him as having a heart of gold and living his life to make others smile.

“One thing I'll never let go of is his heart and how much I know he loved everyone—his family, his children. He was a great kid. When I say kid, he was almost 26, but that’s still a kid,” she said.

Girouard urges people to educate themselves on the dangers of drugs and advises parents to love their children through their struggles.

"Try to love them through it. Remind them that they’re loved, that they’re worthy of being loved, and that this addiction, and whatever demons they’re fighting, don’t define them; it doesn’t make them who they are," Girouard said.

For those seeking help with substance abuse or wanting more information on fentanyl and opioid addiction, resources are available:

• The Acadiana Area Human Services District provides addiction and recovery services for residents in the Acadiana region. They offer counseling, treatment, and support programs.
• The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office offers programs aimed at helping individuals with substance abuse issues, including education, prevention, and treatment options.
• The Extra Mile is a nonprofit organization in Lafayette that provides peer recovery support and resources for individuals and families affected by addiction.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a 24/7 national helpline to support individuals and families dealing with mental health and substance use issues. For more information, you can call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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