Andy Sanchez is a full-speed ahead kind of guy.
A decade-long veteran of the West Haven Police Department, the 34-year-old officer was recently appointed to the street crime unit and continues to serve as a police liaison to the Hispanic community.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sanchez re-enlisted in the Army and was sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served as a member of the 344th Military Police Company.
But when Sanchez was diagnosed with cancer recently and had to have surgery last month to remove his stomach, it stopped the energetic officer in his tracks. Now Sanchez is determined to work through the pain and fight for his health.
"I have a wife to live for. I have two little kids. I'm going to see them grow up," he says, slowly, taking careful breaths. "Quitting was never an option. You play the hand you were dealt."
Sanchez is married to New Haven Police Officer Jaime Sanchez, and the couple has two small boys, ages 1 and 4.
While Sanchez fights for his own life, his friends, family and co-workers are putting together a benefit in his honor to help his family in their time of need.
"Police officers go to work every day and put their lives on the line. And when something tragic like this happens, you hope people come out to help," says his father-in-law, Joseph Abate.
"Even if people can't help financially, I would hope they would pray," Abate added. "Sometimes prayer is worth a lot more than money."
Just weeks ago, Sanchez started feeling sick and was losing weight. He thought maybe it was a digestive problem, but an endoscopic procedure discovered a small tumor in or near his stomach. After surgery to remove the tumor, Sanchez got even worse news.
"They told me my whole stomach was infected with cancer and they had to remove my stomach," he says.
Sanchez, who is still recovering from the surgery and will likely have to undergo chemotherapy in the near future, said his world has been turned upside down.
"Everything I know has changed. I used to be a weightlifter and now I am losing weight every day. It's a struggle," he says.
His diet has changed drastically. Only sugar-free food. No beef or other meat. Sanchez eats soup and small toddler-sized m e a l s . Digestion i s v e r y painful.
Though the strugg l e h a s beenhard, S a n c h e z i s o v e r -- whelmed b y t h e s u p p o r t h e h a s r e c e i v e d fromfamily, friends a n d c o -- workers. That support and that belief i n h i s ability to rise above the cancer keep him going. "I really feel I am blessed." Sanchez was born and raised in Meriden by parents who moved to this county from Puerto Rico. At age 19, Sanchez was hired by the state Department of Correction and worked 4 1/2 years as a corrections officer. An Army reservist with 11 years under his belt, Sanchez served one year in Guantanamo Bay as a military policeman. "I felt a personal responsibility to go after 9/11," he says. Sanchez met his future wife through a friend and fellow officer when he was assigned to the New Haven drug enforcement task force. The couple married in 2002, right before Sanchez departed for Cuba.
His fellow police officers at the department are rallying around Sanchez, offering to help in any way they can.
Officer David Perez, a friend and colleague, said Sanchez is an "all-around good-hearted kid."
"He's the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back no matter what the weather is," he said.
Perez also called Sanchez "fair and equal" in his policing, always listening to what people have to say before making judgments. Perez has faith in his good friend's ability to recover.
"I think he's going to be OK and everyone is hoping he comes
back to work right away," he said.
"It hits home especially when its one of your own officers," said Sgt. Martin Garcia.
Garciasaidwhen he first started on the force, Sanchez really looked out for him.
"He is of great character. We are all really pulling for him," Garcia said.
Sanchez, who usually worked the midnight shift, also serves the department as a translator and is trained to assist victims, witnesses and people who are arrested.
Police Chief Ronald M. Quagliani also praised Sanchez and called for his swift return.
" W e are very fortunate t o h a v e Andy. He is a very t a l e n t e d and dedicated officer," he said.
T h e b e n e f i t , organized by family and memb e r s o f the New H a v e n and West H a v e n p o l i c e d e p a r t -- m e n t s , w i l l b e f r o m 5 p.m. to 1 a . m . o n March 4 at Club VanDome, 102 Hamilton St., New Haven. The cost of a ticket is $20 and will include music and food donated by Luigi's Pizza in North Haven, owned by Abate, and Abate's Italian Restaurant in New Haven.
For information about tickets or T-shirts that say "Andy's Army," contact the West Haven Police Department at 937-3919. Tickets also will be sold at the door. To see more of New Haven Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nhregister.com. Copyright (c) 2009, New Haven Register, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, New Haven Register, Conn.