What to Know
- A woman fighting cancer for the third time is thanking NYPD officers for getting her to treatment after getting stuck in UN-related traffic
- Gabriela DeMassi says two cops volunteered to escort her and her parents through Thursday's jam to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- After navigating traffic, DeMassi says one cop greeted her with a smile and said, “Keep up the good fight. Never give up! You got this!"
A woman fighting cancer for the third time is thanking New York City police for getting her to treatment after her car got stuck in United Nations-related traffic.
Gabriela DeMassi says two officers volunteered to escort her and her parents through Thursday morning’s jam near West 57th Street and Sixth Avenue around 9 a.m. after she and her mother asked officers if they knew a better way to Manhattan’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
The officers quickly helped DeMassi and her parents navigate through the gridlock that led to long delays across midtown during the United Nations General Assembly.
After getting through traffic, the 28-year-old DeMassi says one officer greeted her with a smile and said: “Keep up the good fight. Never give up! You got this!”
DeMassi recounted the experience in an Instagram post that went viral within the law enforcement community. She thanked the officers and hoped they would see her message, adding "Angels truly come in all forms!"
Here's what DeMassi's post read:
Local
"It's treatment day and we couldn't get through anywhere from all the UN traffic. My Mom and I got out of the car and asked a group of cops the best way to get by car to MSK and two cops immediately asked where our car was.
They told us to get back in and they could personally guide us through so we could bypass traffic. Once we got in, he came to our window and wealked along side of [the] car, telling others to hold off, just so they could get us through. Once we passed everything, he came to my window, gave me the biggest smile and said 'hey you!! ... good luck with everything. Keep up the good fight, never give up! You got this!' Then proceeded to give me a high five through the window.
Then as he went to leave, he must have seen my mom get emotional and ran back to her window and grabbed her hand and said 'Ma'am, ma'am ... it'll be okay!' and held on for a few seconds (as we were now ahead of traffic)
Such a beautful soul and I needed to share. So sad I didn't get the name!!"
NYPD Chief Terence Monahan left a comment thanking DeMassi for sharing the story, and hoped he could help find the officers who assisted them. He closed by echoing the officer’s words: “You got this!”
