Requesting a RallyPoint salute for CAPT Chris Cigna

Capt Brandon Charters — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:42:05 -0500

In April of this year, while stationed in Rota, Spain, Navy Commander Chris Cigna was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. Through his difficult treatment, Commander Cigna has remained strong, defiant, and in the fight without fear.
Tomorrow (Monday, 7 Dec), he will be frocked to Captain O-6 at Walter Reed.
Please join me in congratulating & saluting CAPT Cigna on this accomplishment!

Wishing him and his family continued strength and courage as they remain in this fight.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 6 at 2015 11:47 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:47:00 -0500

Congratulations Captain. And good luck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 11:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:48:14 -0500

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 6 at 2015 11:50 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:50:41 -0500

Congratulations Skipper!

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Dec 6 at 2015 11:52 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:52:08 -0500

Congratulations Sir! BZ!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2015 11:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:54:43 -0500

BZ sir, stay strong!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 6 at 2015 11:57 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:57:56 -0500

CAPT Chris Cigna, Hand salute, Recover!
Congratulations, Captain Sir.

Best of all to you and yours,
CSM Charles H Hayden

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 7 at 2015 12:27 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:27:33 -0500

Congratulations to the captain from me too!

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Dec 7 at 2015 12:32 AM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 00:32:23 -0500

Congratulations, CAPT Cigna. *Hand salute!* Keep up the good fight, Sir. 25 years ago my 28-yr sister died of glioblastoma, so you have beat the odds. I survived stage IV neck cancer with the help of outstanding military physicians. You are in excellent hands, I'm sure. Semper paratus!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 1:33 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 01:33:44 -0500

Congratulations sir!!

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 2:36 AM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 02:36:14 -0500

Bravo Zulu, Sir. Good luck as you move forward both personally and professionally!

Response by SFC Stephen King made Dec 7 at 2015 4:37 AM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 04:37:25 -0500

Congratulations CAPT Cigna *Hand Salute*

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 6:06 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:06:40 -0500

Congratulations Captain Cigna! Prayers to you and your family in your battle. May the Lord bless you all!

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Dec 7 at 2015 6:14 AM

MAJ David Wallace — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 06:14:49 -0500

Keep up the fight, sir!!!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 7:52 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 07:52:51 -0500

Salute.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2015 10:52 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 10:52:05 -0500

Sir, Congratulations! Keep up the good fight!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 7 at 2015 11:39 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 11:39:47 -0500

Wishing him a Refua Sheleima - a complete healing of spirit and body...

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 7 at 2015 11:59 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 11:59:04 -0500

All the best, Captain. On your promotion and your speedy recovery. Keep up the good fight!

Response by PO3 Dan Schrader made Dec 7 at 2015 3:56 PM

PO3 Dan Schrader — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 15:56:50 -0500

My thoughts and prayers are with you Captain

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Dec 7 at 2015 7:08 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 19:08:56 -0500

**UPDATE** It is with a heavy heart that I announce CAPT Chris Cigna passed away this morning. Chris battled valiantly with the support of this loving family, friends, and Naval comrades. May we remember him as a great military leader, family man, and someone who left this world a better place. Many blessings and prayers go out to Chris, his wife Jenn Cigna, and their entire family.
One final salute from all of us.

Post from Dec 2015:
I'd like to send along an update I just received from our RP Team Member Mike Swartz who attended this promotion ceremony today. He said it was a wonderful event and everyone was in high spirits to see CAPT Chris Cigna promoted. You'll see a few photos here that the family wanted us to share with our RallyPoint community. Chris was joined today by his wife Jenn, 2 daughters Emma & Lauren, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kevin Sweeney, and the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus.

Cigna family - You have all our support and prayers. As a military family, we stand with you always!

Response by CAPT Douglas McDonald made Dec 9 at 2015 9:12 PM

CAPT Douglas McDonald — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 21:12:43 -0500

Attention on deck !!!

Response by PO1 Joseph Glennon made Dec 18 at 2015 12:52 AM

PO1 Joseph Glennon — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 00:52:59 -0500

A friend of mine - for most of my life! - and a Navy vet was diagnosed with the same thing on his 50th birthday. He was initially given "up to 4 months" to live.

This is the worst and the best of cancers:
Worst: Most aggressive, and hardest (so far) to "cure" or remove. Kills very fast, unless caught and stopped.
Best: Unlike most other cancers, this one doesn't spread to other parts of the body... the person doesn't have to feel his body withering away, doesn't have to watch his family suffer with him for years (or months) as he weakens and shrinks into a shadow of his former self.

The first tumor they removed from my friend was about the size of a golf ball, and was behind his eye. Before they could start radiation / chemo, what was left of the first tumor had regrown into a tumor the size of an egg.

They did the radiation thing in November and December. He's doing much better now - they seem to have stopped it. We'll know more after the chemo - but, the Captain's got a lot better treatment available to him. I'll be praying for his healing and recovery!

Response by CDR Kenneth Kaiser made Dec 23 at 2015 10:23 PM

CDR Kenneth Kaiser — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:23:21 -0500

God Bless him. I have a good friend whom I hope is recovering from this and I lost a step daughter to a similar illness.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Jan 6 at 2016 2:32 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:32:08 -0500

Kick this cancers butt CAPT. That way you can get back to breathing a little salty air keeping the Navy on track. Best wishes and stay strong!!!

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Jan 6 at 2016 3:18 PM

CW3 Jim Norris — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:18:03 -0500

CAPT Cigna - God Bless, following winds and seas be your lot for eternity.....Jim

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jan 6 at 2016 3:45 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:45:48 -0500

DUTY FIRST Sir....and there is NO QUIT allowed!

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2016 5:31 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:31:24 -0500

Congratulations Captain Cigna! God bless you and your family!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2016 10:58 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:58:43 -0500

Keep up the good fight Capt Cigna! Our prayers are with you!

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2016 5:17 PM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 17:17:20 -0500

Congratulations CAPT Cigna....wishing you strength and many years of continued success!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 11:35 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:35:32 -0500

RIP Sir! We have the Watch!

Response by CAPT Michael W. Langston, PhD, DMin made Feb 24 at 2016 1:16 PM

CAPT Michael W. Langston, PhD, DMin — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:16:26 -0500

Congrats on the promotion Chris, my prayers are with you.

Response by Dave Gleason made Dec 9 at 2016 12:14 PM

Dave Gleason — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:14:00 -0500

CDR CIGNA was Flag Secretary when I was at NATO in Norfolk. He was one of the best bosses I ever had!! General Mattis thought he was super too.

Response by SN Earl Robinson made Jan 31 at 2017 8:08 AM

SN Earl Robinson — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 08:08:41 -0500

I salute you Captain Cigna. Stay brave and true to God and country Sir.