They will never hear that song the same way again

Carmel community & the Palladium help grant hospice resident’s last wish

For decades, Patrick Armstrong climbed communication towers across Indiana and the nation, helping keep people connected – the kind of humble, hardworking guy who built the heartland of America.

Today he’s on hospice at the Morning Light Home, under the care of a nonprofit for the terminally ill in need: Morning Light.

And he found himself at the center of a different kind of connection.

Morning Light’s Making Memories Program helps their terminally-ill residents’ last wishes come true. For Patrick he shared a simple request: to hear live music and, if possible, Christopher Cross perform with his lifelong high school friend Traci Runge by his side.

The artist’s music, particularly his hit song “Sailing,” had become a constant companion throughout Patrick’s illness. It was music he returned to during some of the most difficult moments of his medical journey.

By remarkable coincidence, Christopher Cross was scheduled to perform at the Palladium in Carmel.

When Morning Light shared Patrick’s wish on social media, the team at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts immediately stepped forward to help. Through the efforts of President and CEO Jeff McDermott, Julia Shildmyer, and their colleagues, Patrick and Traci were provided tickets and invited to enjoy the concert from a special VIP box.

Then the story took a magical, unexpected turn.

After learning about Patrick and his wish, Christopher Cross and his team extended an invitation for Patrick and Traci to visit before the performance. Prior to taking the stage at the sold-out Palladium, Cross spent nearly half an hour on his tour bus simply talking with the pair.

Nick Wood, Making Memories Program Manager at Morning Light, said, “Christopher took the time to listen to Patrick’s story, hear about his life, and spend time with him as a person. That kindness meant the world to Patrick after a long a difficult illness, the stars aligned and he found himself sat beside the artist whose music had brought him so much comfort and peace.”

McDermott introduced Patrick from the stage and shared both his story and Morning Light’s mission with the audience.

“I fell blessed to have had the opportunity to meet Christopher and attend the concert,” Patrick said. “It wasn’t just meeting someone whose music meant so much, but how genuine Christopher was. I was surprised that Christopher shared personal stories about his own health journey, and I felt a real connection because of it. It felt less like meeting a celebrity and more like talking with a friend.”

Traci expressed her deep gratitude for being able to share that moment with Patrick.

“Attending this concert with Patrick was incredibly special,” Traci said. “Knowing this may be the last concert he ever attends, and understanding that our time with him is limited, made every moment even more meaningful. It was a reminder to cherish the people we love and the memories we create together. When Christopher Cross began singing ‘Sailing,’ I found myself in tears because I knew how much that song meant to Patrick and how much comfort it had brought him during difficult times. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to listen to it again without crying. Sharing this experience with him is something I’ll cherish forever. I’m deeply grateful to Morning Light, the Center for the Performing Arts, Christopher Cross, and everyone who helped make this wish come true. I will carry this memory with me for the rest of my life.”

The evening was made through Nonprofit Morning Light’s Making Memories Program, which seeks to create meaningful experiences for their residents receiving hospice care.

“At Morning Light, we believe every day matters,” Wood said. “No matter how much time someone has left, there is still life to be lived, memories to be made, and moments to be shared with the people we love. Patrick’s evening at the Palladium was a beautiful example of that.”

Morning Light wishes to thank Christopher Cross and his team as well as the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts for helping make Patrick’s wish come true.

To learn more about Morning Light’s Making Memories Program or support future wishes for Hoosiers living with terminal illness, visit morninglightinc.org/lastwish.