9/11 First Responder and Patient Reunites With Former Colleagues at Moffitt
Key takeaways:
- A surprise reunion with a former NYPD colleague helped lift patient Mike Hennessy’s spirits during cancer treatment
- Hennessy completed 30 radiation treatments over six weeks after surgery for salivary gland cancer
- His most recent scans showed no sign of additional cancer after treatment at Moffitt
For Mike Hennessy of Tampa, an unexpected encounter at Moffitt Cancer Center was all it took to lift his spirits.
Hennessy was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer earlier this year after noticing a small lump under his jaw had grown.
The retired law enforcement officer had already undergone major surgery. Despite the exceptional care he says he received at Moffitt, he found himself feeling vulnerable as he faced uncertainty about his future.
When he walked into Moffitt’s Speros Outpatient Center for the first time to begin radiation treatment, he stumbled upon a familiar face: a fellow New York City Police Department officer.
“That was really the icebreaker,” Hennessy recalls.
A Familiar Face
Greeting him was Chris Casella, a member of the Speros Security and Safety Services team. Both men had served with the NYPD and later became friends after crossing paths in Florida through mutual connections in law enforcement.
While the two friends hadn’t seen each other in years, the surprise reunion gave Hennessy a sense of familiarity at a time when everything else felt uncertain.
Hennessy was quickly introduced to other team members who had also served in law enforcement, including former NYPD officers, as well as other members of the Speros team.
That familiarity meant a lot to Hennessy.
“It’s just amazing how far above and beyond they go to make the patients feel,” Hennessy said. “Everybody knows that you’re fighting these fights. There’s no negativity.”
Dedication to Service
Hennessy’s lifelong career in law enforcement took him from patrolling Times Square to working in narcotics in the Bronx.
Among his most notable memories was his time as a rescue worker following 9/11. Hennessy says his cancer was related to his service at Ground Zero.
Nearly 25 years after tragedy struck the country, Hennessy still has vivid memories of his time of service.
He was home when the first plane struck and was ordered to report for duty. By the time he arrived at the World Trade Center site, the first tower had collapsed. The second fell as he approached the area.
For the next three months, Hennessy worked 12- to 14-hour days, sifting through rubble at Ground Zero and witnessing the devastation firsthand. He and his colleagues even volunteered to come in on their scheduled days off.
“We did it as volunteers on our days off,” Hennessy said. “It was a terrible tragedy for this country.”
Hennessy went on to spend a total of 37 years in law enforcement. After beginning his career in New York City, he continued his law enforcement career in Florida for 17 years before retiring.
A Meaningful Gesture
From the moment they reunited, Casella was struck by Hennessy’s positive attitude but he could also sense the fear beneath the surface.
“The first time I saw him, I knew he was scared,” Casella said. “But he left here with such renewed optimism.”
Hennessy completed 30 radiation treatments at Speros over six weeks. Casella says Hennessy’s strength, resilience and humor made a lasting impact on the team.
Moffitt's Speros security team honored Hennessy with an NYPD Valor hat during his final day of radiation treatment.
On his final day, the security team stood alongside him as he rang the bell to mark the end of treatment, then surprised him with an NYPD Valor hat. The emblem is associated with the NYPD’s Medal of Valor, making it a meaningful tribute to Hennessy’s years of service.
“It was very touching. It was a little emotional,” he said. “It’s special to me.”
Strength Through the Journey
Hennessy had been living with pleomorphic adenoma in his submandibular gland for many years, which is the most common tumor of the major salivary glands, says Deepa Danan, MD, a head and neck surgeon at Moffitt.
Although it is benign, it has a small chance of converting to a malignancy over time. If the tumor has been present over 10 to 15 years, the risk of malignancy increases. In Hennessy’s case, the cancer had spread to regional lymph nodes.
Danan performed surgery to remove the gland and lymph nodes in the neck before his radiation treatment.
“Mike had a fantastic attitude before, during, and after treatment. As daunting as the journey sounds, Mike displayed courage every step of the way,” Danan said.
Hope for the Future
Today, Hennessy is working part-time at a golf store, where he repairs golf clubs. He stepped away from work after his diagnosis to focus on treatment.
His most recent scans showed no sign of additional cancer. Through it all, Hennessy says his family, faith and the Moffitt team gave him strength as he navigated uncertainty.
Hennessy says his wife, Marlo, was instrumental throughout his treatment.
Today, the NYPD Valor hat sits on Hennessy’s desk as a reminder of his years of service and the people who stood beside him through another difficult chapter of his life.
For Casella, the feeling was mutual.
Hennessy’s strength and positivity left an impression on the Moffitt team even as they cared for him.
“He always had a smile on his face,” Casella said. “We were uplifted by him too.”
Medically reviewed by Deepa Danan, MD, Head and Neck Oncology Program
