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American Morning
Operation Happy Holidays: Interview of Mark and Katie Olivares
Aired December 25, 2001 - 08:18 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: Well, this week CNN decided to use our communication equipment and satellite time to give some Marines overseas a chance to talk with their families back home this Christmas. Some of the best use, I think we've done of our -- with our equipment in a long time. Our colleague Bill Hemmer is in Kandahar. He is the master of ceremonies, so to speak, for these holiday greetings and Bill, I understand you have quite a story about this next family coming up.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we certainly do. We have our next victim Daryn, Corporal Mark Olivares. He's out of the state of Texas -- hometown corporal?
MARK OLIVARES: Dabble (ph), Texas.
HEMMER: And that's eastern Texas near ...
M. OLIVARES: It's not near anything big.
HEMMER: It's not near anything big. We'll leave it at that. Merry Christmas to you.
M. OLIVARES: Merry Christmas to you.
HEMMER: Listen, we have your wife Katie standing by back in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and I also want to point out the two of you had a -- had a baby recently -- boy or girl?
M. OLIVARES: Had a baby girl -- Tracy Divine (ph).
HEMMER: Okay and she still is being treated -- is that right?
M. OLIVARES: Yes sir. She's in the Neonatal ICU at Wilmington.
HEMMER: Okay. Okay. And she's been there about eight-weeks time, so we'll probably get an update from your wife on that I'm sure -- right?
M. OLIVARES: Yes sir. I hope so.
HEMMER: Okay. Well listen, Katie if you can hear us.
KATIE OLIVARES, WIFE OF MARK OLIVARES: Yes. HEMMER: Being the master of ceremonies ...
K. OLIVARES: Yes I can.
HEMMER: ... I want you to know that once again another Marine has chosen -- has chosen their wife to go ahead and initiate the conversation here. So listen, go ahead with your comments and your hellos and your questions and here's your husband.
K. OLIVARES: Hi honey. I was just hoping you're having a Merry Christmas and what did you get to eat for dinner?
M. OLIVARES: Merry Christmas baby. I love you -- miss you. I'm doing good. It's cold. I'm just worried about you and the baby. How's the baby?
K. OLIVARES: She's doing really well. She got transferred to the Neonatal Transitional Nursery yesterday and starting today, I get to stay with her all the time. So that's really good and she ate three-fourths of an ounce by herself yesterday and so, I'm real happy and she's three pounds and 11 ounces. And she's staying right there and hopefully she'll start gaining weight really soon.
M. OLIVARES: I love the pictures. They're -- she's beautiful. She looks like you, thank God.
K. OLIVARES: Yes, she's a squirt.
M. OLIVARES: How are you holding up?
K. OLIVARES: All the nurses are ...
M. OLIVARES: Are you doing good?
K. OLIVARES: Yes I'm doing very well. I just worry about you and if you're okay and safe and I'm sorry you didn't get your box, but hopefully they'll bring it out to you real soon. Your Christmas present is in there.
M. OLIVARES: Yes I've had a good Christmas. I got to see Wayne Newton, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders -- I was happy about that -- Drew Carey, it was -- it was awesome. I'm getting some goodies -- I've eaten junk food the last two days -- no MRE's for me. I need some home cooking.
K. OLIVARES: That's great. Did y'all get Christmas dinner? Did you all get Christmas dinner honey?
M. OLIVARES: Yes, pork chow mein, MRE.
K. OLIVARES: Oh that's the worst one. I'm so sorry.
M. OLIVARES: Yes.
K. OLIVARES: The Neonatal nurses fed me Christmas dinner.
M. OLIVARES: Yes. How's my family? How's my mom and dad doing? Are they doing good?
K. OLIVARES: They're fine. They're doing really well. They told me to tell you hi and that they love you and Andrew (ph) is doing well. He's as bad as ever, but everybody misses you. My parents say hi and they love you and they hope that you're home soon.
M. OLIVARES: I hope so too. This isn't where I want to be you know, but this is the second place on my list. I'd rather be home, but this is the (INAUDIBLE) place.
K. OLIVARES: I understand honey. I love you very much.
M. OLIVARES: Yes. I just wish I could see a picture of the baby live. But this -- at least you get to see me, that's good.
HEMMER: There's e-mail you know.
K. OLIVARES: I understand.
M. OLIVARES: Pictures are great. E-mail's great. It's not that bad out here. We got -- we got e-mail. We got phone lines. It's good.
K. OLIVARES: Yes I waited for you to call last night, but I was at the hospital until 1:00 in the morning. So ...
M. OLIVARES: You still staying at the Hampton Inn over there?
K. OLIVARES: Well I'm going to start staying at the hospital tonight. I sent you the phone number on e-mail. So you should be able to call.
M. OLIVARES: All right. I love you and the baby. I love -- I love Andrew (ph) back in Texas. I have a son back in Texas also, and I'm just really glad to have this opportunity to be able to talk.
HEMMER: That's excellent. Katie, go ahead and as the choppers move overhead here, go ahead and give us one more greeting for your husband on Christmas Day.
K. OLIVARES: We love you too honey and everybody's praying for you and just be safe and have a Merry Christmas and I love you and I miss you honey.
M. OLIVARES: I miss you too baby and for Hollywood, I'm a stunt action hero. If you want any movie deals, I'll be happy to accept.
HEMMER: There is a commercial in there somewhere I figure. Hey Katie thanks and take care of your daughter -- okay. Get her to full health and full strength ...
K. OLIVARES: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... and Merry Christmas back in North Carolina. Thanks Katie. Okay. Corporal ...
K. OLIVARES: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... very nice. I recommend the chicken MRE (ph) too. There's a lot of variations in there you can choose from.
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: Bill, we're going to let you go. Tracy (ph) ...
HEMMER: Thanks again, Katie. Back to Daryn.
KAGAN: Great. Bill, you go. Katie, if you could stay put for just a second. Katie, it's Daryn Kagan in Atlanta. I know a lot of people -- we're seeing the beautiful pictures of your daughter, little Tracy Divine (ph), and maybe you could tell us a little bit more. Was she born premature or what's her story?
K. OLIVARES: She was born eight weeks premature. She's been in the Neonatal Intensive Care in Wilmington for the past 10 days. She is doing rather well. She's breathing on her now, which we're very happy ...
KAGAN: That's good news.
K. OLIVARES: ... that she's doing that and like I said we're ...
KAGAN: How big was she when she was born?
K. OLIVARES: She was three pounds, 10 ounces when she was born and 17 inches long and she lost down to three pounds, four ounces, but like I said she's regained her weight. So we're very pleased right now that she's doing so well.
KAGAN: That's good and your husband hasn't had a chance to even see her yet or even these pictures. We should explain to our viewers that even though they can hear the family members from here in the U.S., they can't see you guys and they can't see the pictures that we're putting up. But we do appreciate the pictures and you taking time on this Christmas morning and want to wish you and the family and little Tracy Divine (ph) just the best. May she just gain tons and ...
K. OLIVARES: Thank you very much.
KAGAN: ... tons of weight in the New Year. That's what we wish for her.
K. OLIVARES: Thank you.
KAGAN: Merry Christmas to you.
K. OLIVARES: Merry Christmas.
KAGAN: And we want to thank you very much. Tracy (ph) -- that's Tracy Divine's (ph) mother. Thank you.
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