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Blizzard Warnings: Ohio Residents Urged to Stay Inside; Why Wyoming Matters; America for Sale?; Hard-Hit Heartland; Youssif's Progress

Aired March 08, 2008 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A big state with few delegates. Critical, nonetheless. Which candidate will win in Wyoming? That is the question.
Plus, the firestorm of words between parties and campaigns. Well, they've kicked it up a notch.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. One Republican's attack on Barack Obama is something you've really got to hear to believe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. STEVE KING (R), IOWA: Additionally, it does matter that his middle name does matter. It matters because they read a meaning into that, the rest of the world, that has a special meaning to them. They'll be dancing in the streets because of his middle name. They'll be dancing in the streets because of who his father was, and because of his posture. And that says pull out of the Middle East and pull out of this conflict.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes. We'll tell you who he says is going to be dancing in the streets. And this morning the Obama camp is responding.

From the CNN Center, this is the CNN NEWSROOM. It is Saturday, March the 8th.

Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.

NGUYEN: Yes, hi, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. We want to thank you for being with us.

It's 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 8:00 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. And we do begin this hour with extreme weather.

A winter blast is making life really tough across a large part of the country. Just look at it.

HOLMES: Yes. A snowstorm really stretching from Arkansas to the Great Lakes. Blizzard warnings are in effect right now in central Ohio.

We've got some new video all around here we're showing you this morning. People are urged to stay off those roads. Airline travel, as you can imagine, is a mess. Flights in and out of Ohio delayed or canceled.

But the last we heard, last check, the snow was easing up a bit in Cincinnati. That's where our Susan Roesgen is this hour.

Susan, tell us, is it really letting up a bit?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is letting up a little bit, it really is. It's not as windy as it was, not quite as strong wind gusts, and there's not quite as much snow coming down. But honestly, T.J. and Betty, I feel like I'm in northern Wyoming or someplace much farther north, Canada, maybe, than south Ohio.

You mentioned the airports. And yes, there has been trouble at the airports. I think we were on one of the last flights in to Cincinnati last night.

We know that in Columbus it's been pretty bad. Now, that's in the middle part of the state. Most flights have been canceled there.

Here in Cincinnati, flights are landing. We did go to the airport, we did see some flights landing. We've had apparently about 10 percent of the flights coming in and out. Just saw at one of the local hotels a lot of people standing around with their suitcases. They're ready to leave. That may be the big story, is people trying to get in or out by air.

Now, on the road, the Ohio State Patrol is calling it a level 3 emergency. And what that means is, if you're out on the road -- and I see just a couple cars on the road here behind me -- if you're out on the road and you're not an emergency vehicle, they can arrest you. Get that, T.J. They can arrest you or at least ticket you.

Yes, I'd honk the horn, too, but you'd better not let a State Highway Patrol catch you.

They're saying don't go out at all. And the good thing is, it is a Saturday. Most people should not have to go out. And so hopefully, they'll heed that warning and not go out -- T.J.

HOLMES: Well, hopefully they will. And, of course, just right on cue, we saw somebody driving down the street behind you. We saw a big truck as well, going right behind you.

ROESGEN: Yes.

HOLMES: But yes, they can ticket, they can arrest you for your own good, though, I suppose, to try to get you off the road.

ROESGEN: That's true. That's what they're saying. And you know, we talked about salt this morning. That's really been an issue for states all across the Midwest.

This has been such a long, dreary, snowy winter, that a lot of communities, a lot of counties and cities are running out of salt. In this particular area, 850,000 tons of salt used on the roads of Ohio already this year. That is 200,000 tons of salt more than last year. It's been a snowy winter, and who knows when it will end.

HOLMES: All right. And again, right on cue, we see somebody driving behind you, those folks. All right.

ROESGEN: Get off the roads.

HOLMES: Get off the roads.

ROESGEN: Go!

HOLMES: Susan Roesgen, thank you. Maybe you should make a sign out there and hold it up, to tell people to get off the road. But thank you so much again this morning, Susan.

ROESGEN: You bet.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: In just one hour, most Wyoming voters will gather for caucuses.

HOLMES: And we've got a map here to show you. Take a look at how this is going to break down.

The counties in the green there are holding meetings this morning. The ones in yellow start late this afternoon. And the counties in orange mean their caucus starts in the morning but then goes through the afternoon. So it is a colorful, all-day affair going on there in Wyoming.

NGUYEN: Twelve Democratic delegates are up for grabs today in Wyoming, but don't let the relatively small number fool you. Wyoming has plenty of political clout.

Here's CNN's Brianna Keilar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wyoming is big on the U.S. map, the ninth largest state, but tiny in population. It ranks last. The last Census reported just over 515,000 people who made it their home on the range. The biggest city, Cheyenne, the state's capital, is home to nearly 55,000 people.

Wyoming is a state of firsts. The first state in the nation where women could vote, serve on juries, and hold public office. The state motto, "Equal rights."

Wyoming is also home to the world's first national park, Yellowstone. And now for the first time since 1960, Wyoming is playing a big political role.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wyoming's vote will make the majority Senator Kennedy.

KEILAR: That's when the state's delegates officially made John Kennedy the party's nominee for president at the national convention.

Brianna Keilar, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And in Democratic run to the White House, Pennsylvania the biggest race left -- 158 pledged delegates are at stake when voters hit the polls next month.

Our Jim Acosta is in Philadelphia.

Jim, good morning to you again. Now, we got...

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

HOLMES: We've got Wyoming today, we've got Mississippi next week, and then we've got a huge break here before we get to Pennsylvania. Now, is this the chance to kind of restart this whole process? And are people going to focus on Pennsylvania for that momentum like they focused on Iowa when we first started this whole process?

ACOSTA: Absolutely. It clearly is the biggest prize left in this fight for the nomination, 158 pledged delegates, but people are not just talking about what is happening in Pennsylvania. They're talking about what happened in Iowa over the last couple of days.

This congressman there, Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, he brought up Barack Obama's middle name. Once you thought that that issue had come and gone, it's come back again.

Republican Congressman Steve King telling the "Spencer Daily Reporter" that Barack Obama's middle name of "Hussein" is an issue, and he predicted, telling that local newspaper in Iowa, that al Qaeda will be dancing in the streets if Barack Obama is elected president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING: When you think about the optics of a Barack Obama potentially getting elected president of the United States -- and I mean, what does this look like to the rest of the world? What does it look like to the world of Islam? And I will tell you that if he is elected president, then the radical Islamists, the al Qaeda and the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11th, because they will declare victory in this war on terror.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, this is not the first time, obviously, that we've heard this from the other side of the aisle. Bill Cunningham, a conservative talk show host in Ohio, mentioned Barack Obama's middle name on several occasions during a John McCain event a couple of weeks ago.

And so this is going to continue to come up. It appears, on behalf of surrogates for John McCain out in these very important states, Iowa will be a toss-up state, probably once again in 2008. It was in 2004. And one thing that we can say about, you know, Barack Obama and his appeal across the world, T.J., we just did a story last week about Barack Obama and his middle name, and how he appeals to Arabs and Muslims around the world.

And we talked to a number of experts who all told us that, yes, there are people on that side of the world who are fascinated by this presidential election, but those experts told us that because somebody like Barack Obama is in the race, that perhaps it might send a message to that side of the world that is not particularly fond of America right now that perhaps they can do business with the United States, and that the net effect on the streets, on the Arab street, on the Muslim street, is a positive one -- T.J.

HOLMES: OK. Jim, tell us, are we hearing anything else? I guess these comments from Representative King, is this something kind of -- I guess just out of left field? Has he been on record with something like this before? Have we got a response from him? Do we know if he's standing by these comments?

And also, the Obama camp -- are they responding yet?

ACOSTA: Well, the Barack Obama camp is responding. Haven't heard from Congressman King yet, but the Barack Obama campaign has released a statement saying, "These comments have no place in our politics," but they know all too well that this is an issue.

You can go to the Barack Obama Web site where they have spent the last several months trying to combat these rumors, some of these attacks that have been made on Barack Obama's name. You know, there is that video out there that allegedly shows Barack Obama not putting his hand over his heart for the Pledge of Allegiance. That video is actually of the national anthem being sung, and you don't have to put your hand over your heart for the national anthem.

And you know, as for his middle name, his middle name was given to him by his father who was Kenyan, but yet his mother was from Kansas. And let's remember, Barack Obama's father abandoned him when he was a little boy. He essentially had to, you know, make himself -- he's sort of a self-made man. So Obama has had to deal with this for some time, and it appears his background is going to continue to be a campaign issue.

HOLMES: A campaign issue. Barack Obama is a Christian, folks.

ACOSTA: That's right.

HOLMES: He is not Muslim. He has said that over and over again. And it doesn't look like it's going away.

Can't wait to hear from Representative King, to see if he stands by those comments or tries to clarify or explain.

ACOSTA: Absolutely.

HOLMES: All right. Jim Acosta for us this morning. We appreciate you, Jim.

ACOSTA: You bet.

HOLMES: And folks, our political coverage never stops here on CNN. Another "BALLOT BOWL" coming your way, your chance to hear the candidates unfiltered. "BALLOT BOWL" kicks off today at 2:00 Eastern, 11:00 Pacific.

NGUYEN: And we also expect to learn more next hour about the killing of an Auburn University freshman. Auburn police are holding a news conference at the Alabama school, and there are reports of an arrest in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Lauren Burk.

Now, police are not confirming those reports, but they say they do have strong leads in the case. Burk was found shot and wounded Tuesday night about five miles from campus. She died a little bit later at the hospital. And we will bring you that news conference next hour as it happens.

HOLMES: Also, unfortunately, another college student death to tell you about and another young lady who is actually from Georgia. Police in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, saying they have new information about the killing of a popular student there.

They have also scheduled a news conference next hour. We'll have live coverage of that.

This is University of North Carolina student body president Eve Carson, who is from Athens, Georgia. She was shot and killed early Wednesday. Police are now looking at her SUV, checking it out for evidence. They're also going over her computer, her cell phone records, as well as her credit cards.

NGUYEN: Well you know, sometimes there is video that gets circulated and you think, what were these people thinking?

HOLMES: You see that a lot.

NGUYEN: Yes. And this surveillance tape, it's the tape of the week.

HOLMES: Yes.

NGUYEN: That made many parents outraged. Can you believe this? Take a good look.

A mother using a high-pressure hose from a car wash on her young daughter. We have new details of this case coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With falling U.S. home prices, it's making it that much more attractive.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Yes. You can't afford your home, but people from other countries can afford your home. Is the low dollar putting America up for sale?

NGUYEN: And look at this face. You know him, Youssif. Well, he is in school now and having a ball. We're going to give you a progress report on the little Iraqi boy who captured your heart.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, you know, falling real estate prices and a weak dollar can really add up to a bonanza for bargain hunters. If you've got the money, this is the time to buy, especially for investors overseas.

HOLMES: And right now some of the most sought-after properties are luxury homes in south Florida.

Here now, CNN's Susan Candiotti.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How about a back yard like this -- close to sand and surf, year-round warm weather, and exciting nightlife?

(on camera): You have no trouble picturing youjurself waking up to this view in the morning?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I love this area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can picture us both.

CANDIOTTI (voice over): Right here on their own dock.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like it. Here you can cook a lot.

CANDIOTTI: Sylvia Ferri (ph) and Omar Orev (ph) are on the prowl for a home in Miami Beach. She's Italian, he Israeli. An overseas power couple, investors with big money to spend.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This two-bedroom home was listed last year. The listing price last year was $3.4...

CANDIOTTI: That's $3.4 million.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today we're listed at $2.495 million.

CANDIOTTI: A million dollars savings.

Sylvia (ph) and Omar (ph) don't bat an eye.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The super euro is buying more than ever. CANDIOTTI (on camera): International investors are diving into the American real estate market thanks in part to a weak U.S. dollar. And in Florida, anyway, a 30 percent drop in prices.

GREG MCBRIDE, BANKRATE.COM: The U.S. dollar is at an all-time low against that euro, so those buyers have unprecedented buying power on a currency basis, and with falling U.S. home prices, it's making it that much more attractive to them.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): That buying power has American developers openly soliciting European and South American customers using slick Internet layouts, onsite tours for brokers, and print ads in overseas magazines.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is absolutely the best moment because it's the best moment for everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People who don't make offers today are going to look back and regret that they didn't buy.

CANDIOTTI: Florida isn't the only hot market for outside investors. Texas is reeling them in, and so is California. Real estate agents say the main attraction -- warm weather and vacation destinations.

Is America for sale? Better than foreclosures, market watchers argue.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not only do they buy houses, it's just the whole domino effect. They're going to buy houses, they're going to remodel, they're going to do -- they're going to buy carpeting.

CANDIOTTI: Keeping the economy going, and more often than not, plunking down cash for a piece of America.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So if you've got euros, this is the time to spend them.

HOLMES: Right.

NGUYEN: Yes, really. I wish we had a few of those.

CNN's Christine Romans and Ali Velshi coming your way later today with info that you can use. The economy, as you know, not looking so good. On CNN's "YOUR $$$$$," we'll see how you're staying afloat.

That's 1:00 Eastern today, 3:00 Eastern tomorrow.

HOLMES: Well, we'll stick with news about the mortgage crisis and talk about outrage from people being forced out of their homes.

NGUYEN: While they face foreclosures, mortgage company CEOs are looking at big payouts. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: OK, so today we want you to meet another CNN hero, ordinary people having a really extraordinary impact on the lives of others.

HOLMES: Yes. The man we're talking about here took it upon himself to attack an environmental problem head on. His name is Todd Barber, and he is using -- you'll see this in a second -- but balls of cement to save dying coral reefs around the world.

Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD BARBER, DEFENDING THE PLANET: Reefs are dying. Human activity around the world is impacting what's happening under water. If we don't do something to save our coral reefs, we will lose them all, and the impact will be devastating for humanity.

In 1988, I was on a trip with my father and we went to the Cayman Islands and were looking at a coral reef that I had been taking pictures of since I was a baby, and the reef was gone. My heart sank, and I had a strong passion to try to change that. And my father and I sat down one night and came up with the idea of how to fix it.

My name is Todd Barber, and I make reef balls used to help restore reefs around the world.

Reef balls serve as the base habitat for a natural reef to grow upon. They've been designed so that you can plant corals on them.

My goal was to mimic nature, not dictate nature. Reef balls are made with a special cement that lasts over 500 years. They're portable, inexpensive and they're environmentally friendly.

We call this hatching a reef ball. I mean, personally, satisfaction comes from diving on a reef ball and seeing that the environment has been rehabilitated and that the reef is actually there, and that our grandkids will be able to see the same thing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, one little Iraqi boy is definitely a hero, and so are you for helping him. His name is Youssif.

Remember him? He was attacked and burned in Baghdad, but now he is healing and he is happy.

A medical update is just minutes away.

HOLMES: Also, CNN is tracking your financial security. The farmers providing your groceries are having a tough time as well. Some hard times in the nation's heartland.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOLMES: Well, hello there. Welcome back, everybody.

I'm T.J. Holmes.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Here's a quick look at our top stories today.

(NEWSBREAK)

HOLMES: Well, the troubled economy hitting hard in the heartland. Record oil prices are taking a toll on many farming families.

The story now from Poppy Harlow of CNNMoney.com.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scott Hoese has been farming this land in central Minnesota for 33 years. His son Eric recently joined the family business, and together they manage a farm of 600 acres of corn and soybeans, along with 118 dairy cows. But with the record-high price of oil, the cost of farm necessities like diesel, propane, fertilizer and potash has increased at a staggering rate.

SCOTT HOESE, FARMER: Because of the field prices and everything, a few years ago we were paying probably $2.50. I'm sure this year it's going to be close to $4.00 for our diesel fuel that we use. And we probably go through I'm sure about 6,000, 7,000 gallons a year for our diesel fuel. So that impacts us and it impacts the bottom line of our operation here.

HARLOW (on camera): This farm has been in the Hoese family since the late 1800s. And yes, it's getting a lot more expensive to operate, especially lately. But keep in mind the milk and corn and soybeans that are produced here are also trading at record highs.

(voice-over): The price of wheat, corn, soybeans and milk futures (ph) have surged over the past year. But these farmers say not as much as the cost to run the farm.

DOUG PETERSON, PRESIDENT, MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION: A farmer, even with high prices now, the input prices -- in other words, what it costs to make that crop grow -- have eaten up any kind of profit they might have. Just as sure as prices are high, they are going to drop. And typically, inputs never go down to a farmer.

HARLOW: Along with higher operating costs, farmers and their families are dealing with increasing day-to-day personal expenses.

HOESE: My wife does drive to work herself and my son's wife does drive to work. It impacts our family living because of the higher cost of just driving to work -- you know, they're driving 10 miles to work, which isn't far, but it is costing more and more. And our health benefits now just keep on rising. HARLOW: For the Hoese family, the additional money they're making from their milk and other goods is being essentially eroded by sky-high operational costs.

(on camera): Are you nervous what this is going to mean for you in the future?

HOESE: I'm a little bit nervous, but I think it's going to work itself out. I think with our ethanol coming in and our oil price, I think there's going to be a balance out there someplace that will work for all of us, I think. And until we get that, everybody's going to be nervous.

HARLOW (voice-over): And when the snow melts and planting season begins, so, too, will a new challenge. Can the Hoeses make more money from their farm than it costs them to run it? More than a century of their family's farm legacy depends on it.

Poppy Harlow, CNN, Minnesota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. hit an all-time high this week, and that means a record number of people are losing the American dream.

HOLMES: And if that's not bad enough, CEOs of some of the biggest mortgage companies raked in huge salaries, and even bonuses last year. Three of them were sent to Capitol Hill. They had some explaining to do.

NGUYEN: I imagine.

Well, Josh Levs at the .com/DESK has been looking at the startling contrast. It just really is shocking to know that people are losing everything, and yet, people are getting huge bonuses.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, man, do they make money. I mean, some of this is unbelievable.

So, as you guys were saying, three top CEOs yesterday testified before one of the big committees. And at CNNMoney.com we have -- well, I want to take -- if we could go to the article right here, and I'll show you what it is about the mortgage mess. You can take a look at it right there.

This traces you through what happened. Now, some lawmakers complained that while many Americans were suffering from the mortgage mess, and these companies were losing billions, the CEOs were raking in the big bucks.

I'm going to show you a pilot (ph) that we have here. Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide, ex-Citigroup chief Charles Prince, and former Merrill Lynch chief Stan O'Neal collected tens of millions, though Mozilo, for example, noted that he forfeited more than $37 million.

Here now is committee chairman Henry Waxman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HENRY WAXMAN (D), OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: The argument, as I understand it, is that a CEO who adds value to the company and its shareholders is worth every penny. I think there is merit to pay for performance, but it seems like CEOs hit the lottery when their companies collapse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: So, some strong words there, but the CEOs denied that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELO MOZILO, CEO, COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL: ... did well. I did well, as did our shareholders. But when our company did not do well, like in 2007, my direct compensation and the value of my holdings declined materially.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: Now, the CEOs also said that some of these reports about the perks that they get in general can be very exaggerated. And guys, this is a really interesting story.

A lot more details on this at CNNMoney.com. And clearly, it's a story we're following closely. And Congress is just getting started here, trying to grapple with this mortgage mess -- Betty, T.J.

NGUYEN: And what a mess it is. It's going to take some time. Thank you, Josh.

LEVS: Thanks.

HOLMES: All right. A look now at some of the other stories making news this hour.

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This morning we want to thank you. Yes, you, all our viewers who rushed donations to save a little Iraqi boy.

Take a look. This was Youssif last summer in Baghdad. A group of men attacked him and set the 5-year-old boy on fire.

Well, Iraqi doctors couldn't help him, so his mother reached out to you, through CNN. And thanks to your kindness, take a look at him today -- Youssif running as he enters school.

You, our viewers, and the Children's Burn Institute brought the little boy to America, where he is receiving several reconstructive surgeries. And joining us this morning is CNN's Arwa Damon, who first brought us this story, and Dr. Peter Grossman, who is donating his time to operate on Youssif.

Arwa, we want to start with you.

First of all, when we first met Youssif it was totally a different story, but he has come such a long ways from there. Talk to us about the difference you're seeing with these new pictures of Youssif.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, you know, there's really absolutely no comparison to the little boy that we first met in Baghdad. Just to give you an example, when he first came over to the CNN house with his family, he wouldn't even speak to us. He wouldn't even look us in the eye.

He was very quiet, withdrawn. It was almost as if he lived and existed in this space that really no little boy should ever have to live in.

And as you just mentioned, just look at him now. He's running around, he's happy, he's playing, he's going back to school.

He used to love school so much, that before this attack in Baghdad, his mother had said that he would wake her up every single morning saying, "Mommy, mommy, mommy, I want to go to school." He was deprived of that after the attacks took place, and now once again these doors are open to him.

And what we're seeing is this little boy really flourish and become the child that his parents remembered him being before the attack took place. Not to mention, of course, the physical changes that we're seeing that he is very well aware of.

In the past he wasn't able to open his mouth. He wasn't able to eat. He used to sense people's stares.

He knew that there was something wrong with him, and he used to say to his parents, "Why am I burnt? Why aren't other children burnt?" But now it's almost as if he's really put that part of his life aside, and we see him playing with other children...

NGUYEN: Yes. And this is great video, Arwa, because...

DAMON: ... and interacting almost like a normal child.

NGUYEN: ... he was showing us his little pencil box there, and he's sitting in class with all the other kids. The kids aren't looking at him in any odd way, because I know when you first met him, some of the children there in his neighborhood didn't even want to play with him.

Remind us though how this transformation came about, how Youssif was brought to this country.

DAMON: Well, just to highlight on what you just mentioned there, his mother, when they first came to us, said to us that some of the children wouldn't play with Youssif, and he would run into the house all upset in tears and say, you know, "Mommy, why won't these other children play with me?" The pencil book that you mentioned there, he loves the word "you," because Y-O-U are the first letters of his name, Youssif.

Now, this is how we met Youssif. And it was really thanks to the bravery of his parents.

They had basically been pounding the pavement in Baghdad trying to reach out to the Iraqi government, the Ministry of Health, Iraqi doctors, and literally had every single door slammed in their face. Then Youssif's father was at his store, happened to be talking to someone who said to him, why don't you reach out to CNN?

He made numerous attempts to reach out to us, finally spoke to one of our great Baghdad producers, Mohammed, and from that moment on, it was a done deal. I remember Mohammed coming to me and showing me the photographs of Youssif before and after, and I just had chills all over my body.

And I said to him, "We have to help this child." And we put this story out there., and then it was thanks to all of our viewers' donations, our readers' donations, that finally, he was able to come to the United States, thanks to the Children's Burn Foundation and to the Grossman Burn Center. Of course, Dr. Peter Grossman. And what we're seeing here is this phenomenal transformation, a chance...

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

DAMON: ... given to a little Iraqi boy to have a better life.

NGUYEN: And you know, that is the key here. And that's what he is striving for and that's what he's getting a little glimpse of so far in the U.S., Arwa.

And this has not only earned some awards -- and that's not why we do it -- but it's also earned Dr. Peter Grossman the satisfaction of knowing that he is doing something to impact Youssif's life. And I want to bring him in right now.

As you look at these new pictures and as you work with him on a regular basis, this is a little boy who has really transformed, not only physically, but emotionally.

DR. PETER GROSSMAN, PLASTIC SURGEON: It's been a very rewarding experience to see this, this little boy who was so trapped, both physically and emotionally within his scar tissue, seeing him come out and be a little kid again and have fun, and to respond to the people who had been trying to help him -- his family members, people with the Children's Burn Foundation and CNN, who have been along with him this entire road for him. It's really remarkable to see how he's come out and just been able to be a little kid.

NGUYEN: Well, let's do a status report, if we could. Talk to us about where he is right now, because I understand, especially in this video, he's being fitted with a mask. What's the significance of this mask and what is it going to do for him?

GROSSMAN: Well, the mask is called a Uvex face mask, and basically it's a very specialized plastic and silicone mask that's custom-molded to his face. And the idea behind that is to put mechanical pressure on the scar tissue to try to prevent it from raising up and to try to flatten the scars that he has.

And we've got a specialist, Alex Friere (ph), who's been working with us for a long time to help with these masks. He's done a great job with helping us along the way, because with every surgery that we do, we do generate more scar issue, and that's to help control the scar tissue by using this mask. And hopefully, we'll continue to make progress with him with a whole bunch of different types of technology.

NGUYEN: Well, doctor, on -- when we first spoke with you, in the beginning you said that he may have to undergo about a dozen surgeries. Where is he with that right now? Because we're looking at these pictures and he definitely has changed. I mean, he is looking so much better.

GROSSMAN: Well, Betty, we're pleased with the progress that Youssif's made, but we still have a long way to go. I'd say we're probably about halfway there.

At this point, we're really going to focus on his lower lip, focus around the area of his nose, and then the area around his right ear. These are areas that I really would like to see some significant more improvement on, and hopefully we'll see that over the next couple of months.

NGUYEN: And do you expect him to look very similar to how he did before all of this happened?

GROSSMAN: You know, Betty, I wish I could say that would be the case, but no. He's always going to have scars, he's always going to have some type of disfigurement. Our goal is to try to get him better and as close to his pre-injury status as we can, but I doubt that we'll ever get to where he was before his injury.

NGUYEN: And very quickly, too, this has not only earned CNN a Spirit Award, but also you as the doctor performing this surgery that is really changing Youssif's life. And we've got one of those Spirit Awards here.

And i have to ask you, this has to be something that is not only rewarding for what you're doing for Youssif, but it's also got to be rewarding as a doctor, knowing that you're making a difference in someone's life, and it's a difference that's being recognized.

GROSSMAN: Well, you know, there's just no better job, you know, to be able to go to work and help somebody like this, and get that emotional gift of seeing a kid smile. That's tops. There's nothing better than that.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Well, you're doing a fantastic job, and we look forward to following Youssif and seeing him change during the next few surgeries that he has to go through.

And he's getting his life back together, as we can see. He's smiling again. And that's something we did not witness in the beginning of this.

So, Dr. Grossman, we do appreciate your time and your efforts.

GROSSMAN: Thank you.

NGUYEN: And do remember, you can always impact your world. You have with Youssif's life. Just look at CNN.com. Log on to that Web site, CNN.com/impact, and see the many ways that you can help others in your community or around the world. It just takes a few people to start it, and then the movement continues and then...

HOLMES: You have a movement.

NGUYEN: ... you have a little boy like Youssif really benefiting from that, the kindness of others.

HOLMES: And changing his entire life.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

HOLMES: And it was fun to watch that movement. I mean, a horrible story, but to watch that movement and more people catch on and catch on and catch on and turn into this, it's great to see.

NGUYEN: And see how happy he is these days.

HOLMES: Oh, it's nice to see.

NGUYEN: Thank you.

HOLMES: So much more. Yes, thank you. And much more to come from that.

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HOLMES: Hello there, folks. We have got a lot of news happening, and we're bringing it all to you live this hour in the CNN NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Yes. A news conference set to begin any minute now on the death of Auburn University freshman Lauren Burk. She was gunned down on Tuesday.

HOLMES: Also, new information coming out at another news conference in the shooting death of another college student, UNC student body president Eve Carson. We're taking a live look here at Chapel Hill. Police there are giving this press conference.

We'll go ahead and listen in.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... murder of Eve Carson. We have been circulating these photos among area law enforcement, as well as federal and state law enforcement agencies, and started doing this just before lunchtime yesterday in an effort to develop more information about the identity of this person.

We are now asking for any assistance the public can provide in making this identification.

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