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CNN Live Today
Interview With Sandra Canez
Aired October 29, 2003 - 11:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have somebody on the line with us right now, Sandra Canez. We tried to bring here in, we were having a little technical problem on my end before.
But Sandra's in San Diego. We have some live pictures from San Diego that we can show you. We've been showing you fire pictures all morning long. How about the smoke? How about the ash down there? It is having health effects. Sandra, are you with us on the phone now?
SANDRA CANEZ, EL CAJON RESIDENT: Yes, I am.
KAGAN: Can you tell us how this affected -- yes, we can hear you this time. I apologize for the technical delay before. Can you tell me how this affected your family health wise?
CANEZ: I have all four of -- myself and my three children all have asthma. My youngest one is disabled and has severe lung problems, respiratory problems. And I actually am taking him into Children's today, this morning, because the breathing treatments that he has is not working.
In San Diego, the air quality is better. But in El Cojon, the east county area, it is way beyond unhealthy. I was at a shelter since Sunday. And I drove in to the east county area. Myself with mask on could not breathe at all.
KAGAN: When you say you were -- I'm sorry when you say you were at a shelter is that because your home was also in danger?
CANEZ: No. It was because of the air quality. The ash and smoke was coming into our house even with the windows and doors being closed and my son was having problems. I felt it was best for all four of us to leave.
My husband works on the front line with the emergency disaster and with the Salvation Army. So I pretty much have been doing this on my own.
KAGAN: So you are really living this with your husband out there working and you trying to protect your children. So the shelter helped in trying to protect your lungs. But as you said, your youngest child is not doing that well and you feel the need to bring him into the hospital this morning.
CANEZ: Correct.
KAGAN: Can you tell us what kind of symptoms he has? CANEZ: He has wheezing. He's coughing. He says his chest hurts. He has typical asthma symptoms but he's also having a real difficult time breathing. Because of his disability, he's not able to breathe properly like a normal healthy person would.
KAGAN: It's heartbreaking to hear that. This must be so frustrating for you. It's not like a fire where you can call a fireman to put it out. There's really nowhere you can escape this.
CANEZ: No, there isn't at all.
KAGAN: Well, we wish you well. It's clearly a very busy time and very dramatic and concerning time. Special good wishes going out to your son. As you said, you're taking him to the hospital to get him some breathing treatments. Hopefully he'll be breathing more easily soon.
CANEZ: Thank you.
KAGAN: Sandra, thank you. Appreciate that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 29, 2003 - 11:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have somebody on the line with us right now, Sandra Canez. We tried to bring here in, we were having a little technical problem on my end before.
But Sandra's in San Diego. We have some live pictures from San Diego that we can show you. We've been showing you fire pictures all morning long. How about the smoke? How about the ash down there? It is having health effects. Sandra, are you with us on the phone now?
SANDRA CANEZ, EL CAJON RESIDENT: Yes, I am.
KAGAN: Can you tell us how this affected -- yes, we can hear you this time. I apologize for the technical delay before. Can you tell me how this affected your family health wise?
CANEZ: I have all four of -- myself and my three children all have asthma. My youngest one is disabled and has severe lung problems, respiratory problems. And I actually am taking him into Children's today, this morning, because the breathing treatments that he has is not working.
In San Diego, the air quality is better. But in El Cojon, the east county area, it is way beyond unhealthy. I was at a shelter since Sunday. And I drove in to the east county area. Myself with mask on could not breathe at all.
KAGAN: When you say you were -- I'm sorry when you say you were at a shelter is that because your home was also in danger?
CANEZ: No. It was because of the air quality. The ash and smoke was coming into our house even with the windows and doors being closed and my son was having problems. I felt it was best for all four of us to leave.
My husband works on the front line with the emergency disaster and with the Salvation Army. So I pretty much have been doing this on my own.
KAGAN: So you are really living this with your husband out there working and you trying to protect your children. So the shelter helped in trying to protect your lungs. But as you said, your youngest child is not doing that well and you feel the need to bring him into the hospital this morning.
CANEZ: Correct.
KAGAN: Can you tell us what kind of symptoms he has? CANEZ: He has wheezing. He's coughing. He says his chest hurts. He has typical asthma symptoms but he's also having a real difficult time breathing. Because of his disability, he's not able to breathe properly like a normal healthy person would.
KAGAN: It's heartbreaking to hear that. This must be so frustrating for you. It's not like a fire where you can call a fireman to put it out. There's really nowhere you can escape this.
CANEZ: No, there isn't at all.
KAGAN: Well, we wish you well. It's clearly a very busy time and very dramatic and concerning time. Special good wishes going out to your son. As you said, you're taking him to the hospital to get him some breathing treatments. Hopefully he'll be breathing more easily soon.
CANEZ: Thank you.
KAGAN: Sandra, thank you. Appreciate that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
