Shannon Doty (SD): When you got called to New York were you scared?

Dan Flynn (DF): Any responder will tell you that it’s part of our makeup that when everybody is running away from the danger, we run towards it. 

It’s just part of the fiber of my being, I guess, to go to where there is this kind of a need. 

SD: All you ever see is the stuff on the news, and you calling me up and telling me you’re going to New York, I was terrified. Knowing your personality made that ten times worse because I knew if somebody dropped on the street having symptoms, you would be the first person to pick them up and run them to the hospital despite the fact that you could catch Covid also. 

But I was also proud because you are that person.

How did New Yorkers respond to you guys being there?

DF: On our first day, people pulled their cars over and got out of their cars and they started applauding. People on bicycles and people on the sidewalk would shout, “Thank you!” And as long as I live I’ll never forget the sight–as we were walking, right in the middle of an intersection, a disabled veteran stood up out of his wheelchair and, uh, he saluted as we walked by. It was incredibly moving, and that sight will never leave me. 

SD: It’s your attitude toward helping people that made me want to work with patients who have brain tumors. And I would rather run into the fire with my cancer patients instead of just taking the easy way. And that is your doing because you always were there to tell me, “don’t do it the easy way, do it the right way.” 

DF: I think of you as this warrior and living up to your middle name Valory, for Valor. I hope you remember that you are smarter than you think and you’re stronger than you feel.

SD: I’m very proud to be your daughter.

DF: I will always love you darling.