Nigel Armstrong accepts with grace – and even humour – that cancer will soon bring his life to a close.
He is not, however, one to go down without a majestic fight.
“I’m giving it everything I’ve got because of my family,’’ he said in a voice quivering with emotion.
“I think there’s a lot of people that would just go quietly along.’’
The 58-year-old Charlottetown resident was informed a couple of months ago that everything that could be done to battle his cancer from the P.E.I. health system’s perspective had been done. The message, he said, was simply that the time had come for him to let go.
His response? Not so fast.
“Your time has come, but if there is a fight to be had, then fight,’’ he said.
Armstrong is leaning on Raduim 223 treatment in Halifax to bring him more time with his family, perhaps as long as a handful of months.
“God is going to give me another six months, which was completely unheard of two months ago,’’ he said.
“The journey is so incredible. For me, I’m fighting to give my family every single thing I’ve got.’’
He attributes his inspiring, upbeat, positive approach to what has been a challenging cancer journey to a strong spirituality that has taken on a life of its own.
“It’s everything. It’s huge,’’ he said of his spirituality.
“I’m seeing it spread far beyond me. To be announced that you have a few months to live and suddenly you’re laughing and sharing and dancing and happy is nothing to do with me. It’s all faith-based and spreading out involving other people and involving my family. And we’re aiming towards comfort.’’
Armstrong has been overwhelmed with the degree of community support, with many stepping up to assist his family of five at a time of considerable financial hardship with plenty of daily commotion and upheaval thrown in for good measure.
More than $9,300 has been donated to an online fundraising campaign. A benefit is planned for April 5 in Charlottetown to raise even more money for Armstrong and his family, as well as to provide a large, collective show of compassion and care.
“The support is huge,’’ said Armstrong.
“And it is so absolutely, vitally necessary because we have a young family.’’
His children – Graham, 11, Siobhan, 16, and Charlotte, 18 – have spent many years growing up with an ill father.
Armstrong was first diagnosed in 2010 with colon cancer. An operation to remove a portion of his colon, chemotherapy and some time off work seemed to be the tonic.
Sadly, in 2013, he was hit with an aggressive prostate cancer. He was again cut open and had his prostate removed.
Initially, it was believed the cancer had been fully removed. Two months later, Armstrong learned the cancer had actually spread and was now terminal.
“Now that’s a bit of a shock,’’ he said.
“I’m giving it everything I’ve got because of my family. I think there’s a lot of people that would just go quietly along.’’
-Nigel Armstrong
Still, he has taken all of the difficult health blows in stride, never allowing despair to take hold. He never asked why he was tapped with cancer.
His children, though, have struggled.
“The children have had a very, very, very difficult time because of the long journey and they wake up (worrying) what’s going to be wrong with dad today,’’ he said.
Armstrong said he has hidden nothing from his children. He does his best to answer all their questions.
His wife, Sarah, has been a loving, solid rock of support to him and the family.
“I was just very fortunate to be married,’’ he said, his voice cracking.
“And that represented a very, very significant change.’’
Armstrong is comfortable with his encroaching death.
He is looking forward to the benefit evening as an opportunity for him and others to share stories and memories in a spirit of celebration, faith and community.
Armstrong, along with family and friends, can reflect on this man who has long enjoyed an adventurous spirit.
He began a respected journalism career with The Guardian in the late 1980s as a weekend photographer who learned the trade as he went along. He did not even know how to load film into a camera when he was hired.
After a couple of years, he became a full-time reporter, again learning the ropes from one shift to the next.
He loved court reporting for “the rawness, the incredible stories…the stories are so powerful.’’
He was web editor for about five years until his declining health forced an end to his three decades with The Guardian.
“My whole journalism career turned out to be a good match for my personality…I love storytelling,’’ he said.
As a Scout leader for about 10 years, Armstrong went above and beyond the norm to offer the Scouts special, high-adrenaline adventures, including overnight camp-outs on frigid winter nights.
He loved to push the envelope. He did rock climbing in the Rockies and sky dived 110 times, once out of a hot air balloon.
Even though cancer will soon end his life, Armstrong feels fortunate to have lived with diabetes that did not result in any serious health outcomes such as blindness.
“So, I just carried on a kind of a normal life,’’ he said.
Armstrong will be donating his body to science.
For reasons he calls “very, very personal’’, there will not be a funeral following his death.
“So, no funeral, no wake, no memorial – just a normal death notice,’’ he said.
The benefit in April, he notes, is an opportunity to celebrate his life while, God willing, he is still alive.
Offering support
Everybody is invited to attend A Night of Celebration to support Nigel Armstrong and his family.
The public event, hosted by Gary MacDougall and Kerri Wynne MacLeod, will include sharing stories about Armstrong’s remarkable life (he plans to take the microphone as well), entertainment by Richie Bulger and The Wannabeez, a silent auction, 50/50 draw and bake sale.
Doors open at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 5, at Murphy’s Community Centre at 200 Richmond St. in Charlottetown.
Admission is by donation. This is a cash only event.
Donations can also be made by visiting gofundme.com/nigel039s-journey.