Cardinal Dolan Baptizes Baby Girl of Officer Who Survived Shot to Head

Officer Kevin Brennan, 29, survived a shot to the head while chasing a suspect

Cardinal Timothy Dolan baptized the baby daughter Sunday of an NYPD officer who miraculously survived being shot in the head while chasing a suspect in Brooklyn earlier this year.

Kevin Brennan was shot at very close range as he and other officers chased a suspect in January. The bullet lodged at the base of his skull and doctors removed it during emergency surgery.

Brennan, 29, was home less than two weeks later, much to the relief of his wife, who had given birth to daughter Maeve six weeks prior, and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who was on hand for the baptizing at St. Patrick's Cathedral over the weekend.

"It really is a miracle," Kelly told the Daily News, speaking both of the baptizing and Brennan's recovery. "It's just an honor for me to be here."

Dolan agreed with Kelly, calling Brennan's recovery "miraculous" and reminding the congregation how much they had to be thankful for.

"Our gratitude to God was on steroids today," Dolan said after Mass.

Brennan thanked Dolan for blessing his now-5-month-old daughter.

"Whatever pains I had, they went away today," he told the Post. "I can’t believe that [the cardinal] did this. He’s so charismatic. He’s a celebrity. He’s a movie star. But he’s also a gentleman."

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