Alex's Avengers
Sunday, February 1, 2009
By: Cheryl Chiminello

In December of 2007, Alexander Nagy (husband, dad, grandfather, great grandfather, friend) was diagnosed with an advanced and incurable form of stomach cancer.

In December of 2007, Alexander Nagy (husband, dad, grandfather, great grandfather, friend) was diagnosed with an advanced and incurable form of stomach cancer. This came as devastating news to not only his family but to the doctors as well who initially had hoped he had a large stomach ulcer.

After a brave 5-month battle, a strong and proud Alex, without a complaint, gave up his fight. He did this at 6:00 a.m. on May 23, 2008. As a family, we already had plans in place to walk in the Calgary Cancer Relay and all had worked hard to raise money for this event.

At 10:00 a.m., the morning of May 23, 2008, as the family was gathered around the kitchen table, we didn't know what our next step was supposed to be. We were all deeply saddened and utterly lost. What do we do now?

Someone said, "Are we still going to walk tonight?" There was complete silence for a minute and then someone else said, "No, I don't think I can." and someone else said, "I don't think I can either."

Then grandson Colin said,"Well, I am! I'm walking for Grandpa", and granddaughter Juli said, "Well, if you're walking, so am I!". After that, it was easy......it felt right and it was unanimous we would walk for him and for the others. The result of the strength of those two grandchildren resulted in 23 family members and friends walking on the evening of our Alex' passing. We raised enough funds to place Bronze and we carried that sign proudly for our Alex.

I think for all of us, that evening is a bit of a blur. Shock and sadness and tears are most of what I remember. But we also remembered something else - the need to continue to fight this horrible disease.

Cancer steals loved ones and breaks hearts and we are proud to fight something so horrible last year, this year and for years to come.