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CNN Live Today
Mardi Gras Celebrations Bringing Feeling of Excitement, Hope Back to New Orleans
Aired February 27, 2006 - 11:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Mardi Gras celebrations. They are bringing a feel of excitement and hope back to some hurricane-ravaged New Orleans. Many struggling business owners are counting on free- spending revelers to help boost their bottom line, and joining me to talk about that are Tom and Patricia Schoenbrun. Their owners of Maison Perrier, bed and breakfast in New Orleans. I hope I said that right.
Good morning, folks.
PATRICIA SCHOENBRUN, NEW ORLEANS B&B OWNER: Good morning.
TOM SCHOENBRUN, NEW ORLEANS B&B OWNER: Hi there. Good morning.
NGUYEN: Before we talk about how business is booming right now, let's talk about a little bit of history with you guys in the bed and breakfast there. What kind of damage did you experience in Hurricane Katrina?
T. SCHOENBRUN: We had one building that we sustained some serious roof damage, and had to replace the entire roof, and had water damage in rooms as a result of that.
But for the most part, we were spared, as there was no flooding in our neighborhood. We got the roof fixed quick and immediately, you know, in October, we were back in business. We had the environmental engineers that were working at Tulane and the building consultants for Tulane were staying with us. So we've been really busy since the storm.
NGUYEN: Yes, we're looking at pictures right now. It is just a beautiful bed and breakfast. Now you are in the garden district. I want to ask you, how's business? Is there room at the inn?
T. SCHOENBRUN: There's no room at the inn right now. Come Tuesday, everyone will be leaving town, and there'll be plenty of vacancies. So -- but right now we are -- we have our hands full.
NGUYEN: Patricia, is business better than you expected, or did you think that people would come back for Mardi Gras?
P. SCHOENBRUN: We had a feeling people would come back for Mardi Gras. We have families that come back every year, and they've been very supportive and called right after the storm and were checking on us. We did have a few guests that were a little bit concerned and one thing or another forced them to cancel. But the rooms filled up really quickly so we're really fortunate.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about some of the regulars that have come back for Mardi Gras. You have one particular krewe that's from Pass Christian. They lost everything, but they were determined to go to this Mardi Gras. Why?
T. SCHOENBRUN: Well, they do it every year. And they are -- they're determined to stay in the Mississippi Gulf Coast and come back to New Orleans.
New Orleans is going to bounce back from this. You know, especially -- tourism is going to be fine in New Orleans. It's just -- the neighborhoods that have the substantial flooding and experienced what these people did out in Mississippi, I mean, it's just so slow going out there. They did lose everything, but you have to move forward. And that's the way that they felt. They have a huge family that's staying with you. It's probably about 12.
NGUYEN: Kind of symbolizing an end of mourning and a return to normalcy.
I have to ask you quickly, though, as you look ahead, it's all smiles and partying, but there's a lot of devastation. And you even said, when big storms come, you may even think about packing up and moving on just briefly until the storms pass. Is that right?
P. SCHOENBRUN: Well, I think this summer it's going to be really tough for us. Every time there's a storm in the Gulf, we're all going to have to think about evacuating until we know the levee system is strong enough. And right now it's compromised. And it's going to be a concern for all of us. I mean, I joke around that maybe we should buy mobile homes so that we're prepared. We have four dogs. So every time we leave, it's kind of a debacle.
NGUYEN: That is the reality of the situation. Even though people are healing and moving on, the reality is there's still a lot of work to be done.
Patricia and Tom Schoenbrun, thank you so much for being with us.
Happy Mardi Gras to you.
T. SCHOENBRUN: Happy Mardi Gras to you. Than you.
P. SCHOENBRUN: Thank you. Same to you.
NGUYEN: Well, jazz man Harry Connick Jr. is a native of New Orleans. He was born in the Bayou and grew up playing in the Big Easy. Connick is not in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras because he's starring in "The Pajama Game" on Broadway, but he talked to AMERICAN MORNING's Soledad about criticism by some that it doesn't feel right to celebrating Mardi Gras this year.
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HARRY CONNICK JR., MUSICIAN: You have to -- yes, you're bitter. Yes, you feel like you've been failed on some level, by some level of your government, but I say absolutely have Mardi Gras, and it's probably very painful for some people, and it must sound like I'm speaking on some pedestal, because I don't, you know, have my primary residence there. But I think you've got to have it and I think you got to start some time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: This reminder for you, you want to tune in for an expanded edition of AMERICAN MORNING on Fat Tuesday. That's tomorrow, from 6:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Then in primetime, catch Anderson Cooper's live Mardi Gras coverage at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. A lot to show you.
Well, many humanitarian groups and individuals have been giving their time and talents to help parts of the Gulf Coast rebuild, nearly six months after the hurricane came through.
CNN.com producer John Helton spent time lending a helping hand in this storm zone, and our Veronica De La Cruz has his story from the dot-com desk.
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VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it's been almost six months since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. And while many helped wit monetary contributions, others contributed their own blood, sweat and tears.
Joining us now with his story is CNN.com's John Helton.
Hi, John.
JOHN HELTON, CNN.COM PRODUCER: Hi, Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: So tell us your story.
HELTON: I was part of a group of Habitat for Humanity volunteers that went down to southern Louisiana, a little past New Orleans, about 50 miles past New Orleans and built homes for people who lost theirs to Katrina, and in some cases Rita.
DE LA CRUZ: What kind of work did you guys do?
HELTON: We built houses to the point of getting a roof on them, new houses on concrete slabs. They subcontract a lot of the finishing stuff. But some have built houses. One guy was a builder. Others had never done that kind of work before, but everyone made a contribution.
DE LA CRUZ: So if you wanted to participate, I know you have carpentry skills. Do you need these kinds of skills? HELTON: No, no, carrying skills, holding skills. I mean, there are so many things people can do. We the first night made lunches for each other the next day. They need help just carrying things to the different houses. Some people learned things while they were there. They had some carpentry skills by the time they left.
DE LA CRUZ: Do you have plans to go back?
HELTON: Yes, I want to go back and see the end of the -- the finished product when the whole subdivision is built. And if there's -- there's years worth of work down there, so there will be other opportunities to volunteer again. Everyone should.
DE LA CRUZ: All right, John. We thank you so much for your efforts and for sharing your story. And if you'd like to read more about John's experience online, you can do so at CNN.com/Katrina.
For the dot-com desk, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.
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NGUYEN: We want to take you now to stories making news overseas.
The European Union has approved an emergency aid package of more than $142 million to help the Palestinians. That is before the Hamas- led government takes office. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist and the U.S. and the E.U. consider Hamas a terrorist organization. Israel has already stopped its monthly payments, and the U.S. is demanding the return of $50 million in aid.
A breach of copyright suit opens in London against the publisher and author of the blockbuster book "The Da Vinci Code." Two authors of an earlier book about the Holy Grail allege the "Da Vinci Code" author used their ideas and themes without permission. Random House, which published both books, denies their claim.
A spectacular end to the Winter Olympics in Torino. Did you see it last night? Fireworks filled the night sky amid a carnival theme celebration. Germany won the medals race with 29, followed by the U.S. with 25. Canada came in third with 24. The Canadian city of Vancouver hosts the next Winter Olympics in 2010. It will be here before you know it.
Well, imagine having two children who both need heart transplants. That is the reality for one California family.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is incredibly rare for even one child to have the condition that they have. And the word the cardiologist used that both of them have it, he said, is just unfathomable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Just ahead, an incredible story of heartbreak and hope. LIVE TODAY will be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: The outlook for a critically-ill California boy is improving today. A heart transplant means a chance at life for the infant. But struggles are ahead for the baby and his twin.
Here's CNN's Peter Viles in Los Angeles.
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PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his seven months, Nick Draper has never left the hospital. Born with an enlarged heart, his only hope for a healthy life was a new heart, a transplant. And then miraculously, the call came.
NICOLE DRAPER, MOTHER: I looked down at him and said they have a heart for you! And -- very, very exciting.
VILES: The next day, when he was wheeled in for surgery, little Nick's eyes were wide open. The tiny heart that would save his life was rushed to Los Angeles. But then after five hours of surgery, a complication. It seemed Nick's body was rejecting the new heart.
DR. MARK PLUNKETT, PEDIATRIC HEART SURGEON: Following implantation, the heart, which initially began to function and beat normally -- it did not function well and did not seem strong enough to take over the entire workload.
N. DRAPER: We were very scared and initially disappointed. We were still very hopeful, but it was very scary.
VILES: For several days, machines kept Nick alive as another miracle took place. His little body and his new heart learned to work together.
PLUNKETT: It's doing very well and he is doing very well. So we remain cautiously optimistic that both Nicholas and his new heart are going to continue to improve, and eventually do well in the long run.
VILES: But there is more to the story, so much more. You see, Nick has an identical twin brother named Nate, and against all odds, Nate suffers from the same heart condition.
N. DRAPER: It is incredibly rare for even one child to have the condition that they have. And the word the cardiologist used, that both of them have it, he said it's just unfathomable.
VILES: Doctors put Nick first in line because he seemed more likely to survive a transplant. So now the Draper family needs another miracle, another tiny heart.
N. DRAPER: We know that Nate is struggling a little bit, that he has shown a little deterioration and that he is going to need that miracle to keep going.
VILES: For all their struggles, the Drapers feel that they are blessed.
MICHAEL DRAPER, FATHER: You have really got to focus in on the positive. And I think, you know, we just knew all along that the boys were going to be OK and I think we've just got to cling to that thought. It's happened for Nick. And, you know, we're going to believe that it's going to happen for Nate.
N. DRAPER: One thing that we want everyone to know is how grateful we are. Obviously, our situation is difficult. But we certainly would not want to be on the other end, either. And what a difficult situation for their family, and how grateful we are for their being willing to make that life-saving donation.
VILES: So, for now, the drapers rejoice and pray for another miracle.
Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Oh, and we hope them the best. Well, the new heart from baby Nick came from 4-month-old Jordan York (ph) from Florida. The infant apparently pulled a pillow over his face while napping that reduced oxygen supply, left Jordan brain dead. The Draper and York family say they would like to meet and talk. We'll be right back.
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NGUYEN: Well, tomorrow, New Orleans celebrates its first Fat Tuesday since Katrina came to town. But behind the mask and genuine sadness, the struggle to rebuild and recover goes on. Photographers Howard McKay (ph) and David Gallant (ph) are sharing their images of the city before and after the storm. The photos are set to an arrangement of "Amazing Grace" by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
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