SquawkRadio Comments

That was absolutely beautiful Leslie. Thank you for sharing. My family lost alot in MS but they had alot of other family to turn to.
I’m so proud you found a family to turn to because I know how hard this was for you.
Hurricane Allen (S.Tx) took my home as a child and I only wish there were these wonderful women to help during that hard time. My wish came true with you!

Leslie,

Thank you for sharing your story.  I don’t think any of us not living through this can comprehend how truly devastating Katrina was and how the aftermath has lingered.

My church sponsored two families last year, providing apartments, clothing, furnishings, toys, food, money, help with jobs, etc.  I consider my family fortunate to have been able to provide school transportation for a 14-year-old boy.  Since he rode to school with us every day, we were able to hear his story in detail and really see the affects of this catastrophy in a more personal way.  His family’s home was literally washed away - only the plot is left - while he and his mother and sister were out for a walk after the storm.  Their story really touched us, as did meeting the boy’s mother and realizing what she had been through (walking with her children from New Orleans and catching a ride with a stranger to Mississippi) to protect her family.

Both families have since returned to New Orleans.  They were native New Orleaneans and just missed their home too much to stay away. 

The very best wishes for you and your family - may you all continue to recover from your losses and move on to better times.

Carolyn

Cara,

I think it is so quiet right now bc we are all tearing up reading this..

Leslie, that was so beautiful, I don’t know what to say other than it was an honor to get to know you, and that you are a very strong person, and your family is lucky to have you! You are wonderful to keep everything together even in times like this…

Well Leslie and Laura the two of you have managed to do something that few people have ever managed to do.
You made me cry.
God bless you both! And God Bless the Rest of you Good and Kindly Souls here at SR
Julie

I knew I should have gotten tissues before reading this.  Leslie, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us.  You write so eloquently, because you write from your heart.  God knew you needed an angel and guided Eloisa, and Laura and others to your path.  I firmly believe that.  It was so inspiring to see this community of women come together in support of you and your family once Eloisa told us of your story. 

I continue to pray for you and your family and hope that 2007 will bring you brighter days, joy to your heart and peace to your soul.

(((Hugs)))

PJ

Your poem is beautiful and your story is inspirational.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.

It takes great strength to move beyond what has been asked of you over the past year or so.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

May angels always be there to lift your up when you need it most.

I’m sorry this is so long, but New Orleans is a special place to me, I had a lot to say.

I, too, was in New Orleans days before Katrina. I had just moved down and started classes at Tulane Law School. I was awoken early Saturday morning by my dad, calling to tell me to hurry up and get out of town. I was reluctant, but after watching the weather reports, decided it was better to be safe than sorry. I brought home one t-shirt, some underwear, my make-up, and all seventy billion law books. 

When I got home, I watched as the storm grew impossibly big, and I wished I had brought more of my things home with me. All the dire predictions had me so scared, not only for the people who were still in town, but the things I had left behind - everything that made me an adult was in New Orleans. There were so many things I worried about - the picture of my dad’s grandparents, my old journals, all my clothes, and my extensive book collection.

My mom woke me up the next day to tell me the levees had broken. I frantically searched the internet for news of my street. I called my new law school friends. I found a picture of the gorgeous church across the street from me, with its steeple completely blown off. I cried, for the beautiful city I had just been beginning to know.

I was incredibly lucky to make it through without any damage to my apartment. Not even a broken window. But experiencing that fear, that thought that I had lost everything I owned, made it even more real to me what Leslie and so, so many others went through. And are still going through. I sit in awe at the courage and fortitude it takes to face losing everything.

I came back to law school in January with a new perspective. There are more important things in life than school. I came back, partly for my education, but also to help bring this historic city back to life. Every day new things return - the Starbuck’s around the corner and Wal-Mart were quite celebrated this last spring. And yet, there are STILL complete neighborhoods empty. Many friends of mine only have one neighbor in the entire neighborhood. The mailman doesn’t come by unless they have mail. Packages have to be sent elsewhere. The lines are long and the main streets are busy, while the back ones are rarely travelled. We make sacrifices. But the city will be back, even if it never will be the same.

Leslie, thank you for sharing your story with us. I only experienced a tiny fraction of what you went through, and I was a mess for weeks. I so greatly admire you and your strength. Please know that the feelings you have are completely normal - a crisis this great leaves a lasting impression. I hope your depression recedes soon. You are an incredible woman, and I am so glad there were people like Laura T and Eloisa, and all of the Squawkers, to aid you in your time of need. Good luck to you and your family, and have a Merry Christmas.

Oh, and GO SAINTS!

Leslie,
It was an honor and a blessing to be able to help you and your family during such a difficult time.  Our own hearts were inspired by the extraordinary generosity of our Squawk Radio readers.  We truly are a family and we consider ourselves doubly blessed to count you as our sister.

Love,
Teresa

Leslie,

Perhaps only those who love words as writers and readers do know how inadequate they can be. I have no words large enough to express how moved I am by your words, but please know that you and your family are in my prayers. May God continue to grant you an extra measure of strength and grace.

Leslie, I continue to lift you and your family up in my prayers.  What a gracious woman you are!  May God continue to give you strength and hope and joy....I know you’ve much love!

I hope you made a copy of that pre-foreclosure letter and then burned it in effigy!  Here’s to a glorious 2007 and beyond!

Laura and Eloisa and I guess we can add Rachel Ray to the mix (no pun intended) God Bless You and yours! 

HUGS ALL AROUND!

Leslie,

Your story truly touched my heart.  Thank you for sharing it with us.  May God continue to bless you and your family.

Hugs,
Andrea

Leslie,

No one knows what the future may hold, but I wish you and your family nothing but joy and happiness this holiday season and beyond! And that goes for the many other victims of Hurricane Katrina as well. We should not forget people are still struggling.

A woman I work with recently was in New Orleans for a convention. She said she had never felt as loved and welcomed as she was during that trip. She also spoke of the incredible devastation still to be found throughout parts of the city. We need to figure out the solution to mend the lives of so many.

Leslie,

May God bless you and your family.  It was an honor to help you in your time of need.  Your story has touched us all.

I pray that 2007 is a year of abundance for you and your precious family.  You are all angels!

Love and many blessings,
Gannon

Leslie, you made me cry too!

My family and I didn’t lose everything, but we had to leave our country in a very particular situation and so we left everything behind and we started over. We could not have done that if it wasn’t for my mom, who is the bravest and the most incredible person I know.

And you are very brave too! YOU CAN DO IT, Leslie! You already DID it with the help of these beautiful ladies!

I’m so happy for you!

Leslie,
You are an inspiration to all of us. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I’m so touched by your courage and by the compassion of those who helped you first as strangers --now as friends. I’m sure that you are as much a blessing to them as they are to you. Thank you for sharing your story.
Amy

I can only echo everyone’s sentiments here, Leslie, especially Terri’s. I’m just glad we were able to do what we did. Should I ever find myself in a similar situation, I hope someone would be there for me, too. You guys take care.

Leslie,
I cried reading your story and watching it on RR this evening! What an amazing story!

Your poem was beautiful! I think we are truly blessed to know you and I wish you many, many blessings this Christmas and in the coming year!

LdyBlkny

Actually, you presented the kindest opportunity for us.  The best thing in the world for a person is to help another in need.

Give us the details about this Christmas, as well, okay?