Tulane medical students get engaged with help of Muses

Danielle Krakosky met her girlfriend, Carrie Crook, in an anatomy lab at Tulane University School of Medicine. Now third and fourth-year medical students, Krakosky wanted to propose - and to make the moment special she brainstormed about several very New Orleans ideas. She came up with the grandest plan of all, which involved having the Krewe of Muses become collaborators during their parade route.

Muses is one of the most popular parades of Carnival season in New Orleans. It also has one of the most coveted throws, as members of the all-women krewe elaborately decorate shoes and hand them out lucky recipients along the route. Krakosky reached out to Ragan Gankendorff, executive director of health system clinical affairs at the School of Medicine and a member of the Krewe of Muses. Gankendorff delivered a special glittered shoe for the occasion, which helped pop the question by being bedazzled with “Marry Me, Carrie?” as its decoration.

Krakosky told Gankendorff where her friends and family would be watching the parade and made signs to ensure they caught the riders’ attention. When the float rolled up, a group of Tulane medical students surrounded the couple as Crook received the shoe.

Krakosky got down on one knee, and Crook immediately said “Yes!”

“It went exactly how I pictured it,” said Krakosky. “I’m definitely riding on a high right now. It was the perfect moment.”

“I’m very excited and happy and grateful,” said Crook.