Transcripts For KGO Nightline 20171118

You get up there with your little fist and go, hey, leave my brother alone i do that. The brave boy at the center of it all. Sometimes when im having a good time, i forget what i look like. This special edition of nightline, wonder boy a story of transformation will be right back. Hows it going down there . Thats good. Lica misses you. Im over it though. laughter thats fine. I miss her more than you anyway. Hey, my window is closing. Yeah thats okay. Alright miles. I love you. phone hangs up yeah i love you too. Hi, were alaska airlines, and we give you more than just peanuts. We give you european biscoff cookies. Hundreds of free movies you can watch right on your phone. If you want peanuts, check out our prices. This is a special edition of nightline. Wonder boy. It is nearly midnight on a frigid february friday in manhattan. Nurses on the labor and delivery ward at st. Lukes hospital are urging one of the expectant mothers to keep trying. Nanda newman with husband russell has been in labor for hours. What was the doctor telling you about why the labor was taking so long . Well, its a first krifry. You know. You just got to push harder. They finally say, weve got to get this kid out, hes showing some signs of distress. And then our life changed forever. Tell me what you saw. It didnt look like a human being. It didnt look like a human . He didnt look like a person. It was that different. Reporter a crushing blow to a dream of parenthood that began a just three years earlier when magda and Russell Newman married in 2002. Magda became pregnant shortly after. Were you ki were you excited . Yes, very. No blips on the radar screen . Yes. Reporter back in that hospital room, after nearly 17 hours of labor, when magda finally delivers, it is not a scene of happiness but of horror. I dont remember fainting. But i certainly remember screaming. You were screaming so loud. Oh my god, oh my god. I thought he was dead, thats what i thought. What happened, whats happening . I saw shock on peoples faces. Big eyes, and whats going on here . What happened . I dont hear baby crying. No noise. Nobodys telling you anything . Nobodys telling me anything, im like, whats going on . Is he alive . Whats going on . I want to see the baby. They didnt want to show you. They were scared to show me. Because he had no cheekbones. And no upper and lower eyelids. Just completely disfigured. Reporter and even more terrifying, the baby is not breathing. Magda is left alone on the delivery table while doctors frantically work to save her babys life. While that was going on, a doctor called me out of the room to show me a textbook. I remember it being an old black and white picture of a teenager with treater collins and i remember thinking, thats going to be my kid . Reporter treecher collins is an extremely rare genital cranial facial disorder. It affects just 1 in 50,000 people. I cant imagine firsttime parents, so excited to have a baby. In one nanosecond, everything, every single thing, changed. It was it was it was surreal. Reporter they named their son nathaniel. He is transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at nyu where he will spend the first month of his life. There the newmans meet nurse pat chabaro. What do you remember most about that day you met the newmans . They were absolutely devastated. Families will say, when is the surgery . When is the surgery thats going to make this all go away . Right. And unfortunately, its a journey, its not a surgery. Reporter for the newmans, the journey was just beginning. They say it was something unexpected that happened in the hours after thnathaniel was bor that sustained them through the early days and then the later months and years ahead. We turn on the tv. And it was the grammy awards. The show starts with Christina Aguilera singing the song beautiful. I am beautiful no matter what they say you talk about timing. And no matter what people say, no matter what people do, youre beautiful in every single day. That song resonated. We got up out of the bed and we went down to the nicu and we held thnathaniel for the first time. We held our son. Sorry. Reporter unlike a typical infants face, nathaniel was born without cheekbones, eye sockets, or ears. But most harrowing of all are his breathing complications. His nasal passageway is nearly solid bone. And his airway is so narrow, its like trying to breathe through a soda straw. But as different as nathaniel looks on the outside, thats where the differences end. Other than his appearance and how his life functions, breathing, eating, et cetera, he is no different than any other boy. Reporter but because of those malformations in his face, in his first year of life he has more than ten surgeries. Weve never done cosmetic surgery on nathaniel. Everything weve done his whole life has had some benefit to life function. Reporter when nathaniel is 1 month old, an emergency tracheotomy is performed. A breathing tube is inserted into his throat. A procedure as lifealtering as it is lifesaving. Once you become dependant on a trach, your life changes. And then hes going to be prone to infection, which ended up proving to be true. Where a normal parent, you know, bath time is this cute, wonderful experience. For us youre worrying about, what if water gets in there . Reporter by the time nathaniel turns 2, russell and magda are ready to try for another child. But because of the hereditary nature of treecher collins, there is a 50 50 chance their second child will have it as well. Theres no way to know for sure until delivery day arrives. This delivery was so quick. I walk into the hospital. 20 minutes later, jacob was born. Jacob literally came out looking like a porcelain doll. Gorgeous, beautiful. Reporter throughout the years nathaniel and jacob shared all the moments and memories that brothers do. But for nathaniel, things were always different. By age 11, nathaniel had undergone 53 surgeries. The newmans had relocated to reno, nevada, after rules got a new job. And that is where i met nathaniel for the first time. Nice to meet you, buddy. How do you explain how you look different . I just explain that i was treecher collins, and i know everyone looks different, except i look a lot more different than everyone else. Does it bother you . No i kind of like it. Its fun because i stand out. Im curious, when you realized, hey, my face is different from other peoples faces . One of the first kids called monster. A kid called you a monster . Yeah. That must have hurt your feelings. Yeah. Then i realized that they dont do it to anybody else. So i was different. How did that make you feel . I was insulted. Yeah, ill bet. Were you mad . Yeah. I guess. A little. Sometimes. Why do you think kids do that . Why do you think they say mean things to kids who look different . Because they dont really think about what theyre saying and their parents dont really do anything about it. Reporter and over the years, nathaniels differences have affected his little brother jacob too. He can sometimes find himself acting more like a big brother. Your parents are telling me how when you were so little and kids would be mean to nathaniel, youd get up there with your little fist and go, hey, leave my brother alone. I still do that. But i get more into it. Do you think of yourself as your brothers protector . I think he can protect himself pretty good. Here comes superhero nathaniel sometimes i forget i have treecher collins. You do . Yes. m having a good time, i forget what i look like. When we were zip line did you f forget . No, i was just having a lot of fun. Reporter fall of 2015, nathaniels first day of middle school. To ease the transition the newmans have come up with a plan. Russell and nathaniel sit down together and write a letter. My name is Nathaniel Newman. I am different. I dont want you to be surprised when we meet. I really want to be treated line everyone else. Reporter the single most powerful change in how children treat nathaniel isnt because of that letter, but because of a little blue book called wonder. You may have read the book wonder. If you have then you already know a little bit about me. Reporter wonder tells the story of 10yearold augie pullman, born with a facial difference a lot like treecher collins. When the book came out in 2012, nurse pat chabaro was one of the first to read it. She immediately reached out to the newmans. Literally read it in three hours, cried the whole time. Calling pat and going, pat, did she spy on us . This is freaky. Reporter today wonder is more than a book, its a phenomenon. Selling more than 5 million copies. And translated into 45 languages. Its even become required reading in hundreds of schools across the country. Its become part of a campaign, in essence, to be kind. I use this quote. If you have a choice between being right or being kind, choose kind. Its a simple thing. That book is singlehandedly making life easier for children with facial differences. Its just a fact. Reporter coming up, will nathaniel ever breathe on his own . Doctors propose a risky surgery that could mean life or death. One more major surgery, which is barbaric. Reporter a Devastating Development no one saw coming. Tired. I want it to be over. Clot. I sure had a lot on my mind. My 30year marriage. My 3month old business. Plus. What if this happened again . I was given warfarin in the hospital, but wondered, was this the best treatment for me . So i made a point to talk to my doctor. He told me about eliquis. Eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots and reduces the risk of them happening again. Not only does eliquis treat dvt and pe blood clots. Eliquis also had significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. Eliquis had both. And that turned around my thinking. Dont stop eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. Eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. Dont take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. If you had a spinal injection while on eliquis call your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. While taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily. And it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. Seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. Eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. Eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots. Plus had less major bleeding. Both made eliquis right for me. Ask your doctor if switching to eliquis is right for you. It all starts with a wish. The lincoln wish list event is here. Sign and drive off in a new lincoln with zero down and a complementary first months payment. Well its a perfect nespresso hold on a second. Orge. Mmm. [mel torme sings comin home baby] hey there. Want a lift . Where are we going . No dont tell me. Let me guess. Have a nice ride. How far would you go for coffee thats a cup above . I brought you nespresso. Nespresso. What else . It feels good to be back. This special edition of nightline, wonder boy, continues. Smile reporter after a lifetime of surgeries, today 12yearold Nathaniel Newman is heading back into the operating room. Ready . Yeah. This is the drill. Reporter as hes done nearly 60 times before. A Family Tradition of sorts. Russ carries his son into surgery. Want to kiss her one more time . Yeah. I love you. See you soon. Reporter for the next 12 hours, surgeons will work to rearrange the bones in nathaniels face, anchoring them in place with a metal halo attached to his head for the next three months. Until those bones can finally settle into their new position. At that point, doctors will finally remove nathaniels trach and hell be able to do things hes never done before. As dr. Hopper heads into the operating room, magda and rules are left to wait and worry. It never gets easier. Putting your son on a metal table surrounded by things that are going to, you know, cut him open. Reporter as the hours pass, the tension mounts. So my hearts beeping faster and faster. Yep, thanks. So hes finishing up. Its going to be a shock when you see him. Because hes going to have metal everywhere. Hes going to be very swollen. Much more swollen than when youve seen him from previous surgeries. Reporter when nathaniel wakes up, his jaw is wired shut to that metal halo. But after just a few days, there is crushing medical news. This time not for nathaniel. It is for magda, who has come down with a nagging cough. I started coughing. And thinking, i probably have some type of a walking pneumonia. I just went to emergency room. Reporter the doctors quickly order a routine cat scan. And then the doctor says, its cancer. Im like, that cant be possible. Reporter magda is diagnosed with an aggressive form of nonhodgkins lympholymphoma. I was angry, i couldnt believe it. Reporter caretaker turned patient herself. She begins a series of grueling chemotherapy treatments, eventually losing her hair, but never her sense of purpose. I had two choices. To sit and mope and think, oh my god, poor me. Or just get help, get healthy, and take care of nathaniel. People would look at everything that you as a family have been through and i would say, why is so much being asked of this one family . You can focus on the negative. And be negative. Is it going to change . No. We have a choice to look at the positive. Reporter it is an outlook magda has passed on to nathaniel, who while in that metal halo was unable to speak or eat, but remarkable is able to dance. Now we can check . Reporter after three months nathaniel is back at the hospital. Doctors are ready to remove that halo. See you in there, okay . Reporter with nathaniel in surgery, magda heads home to rest and the crushing emotional weight of all theyve been through suddenly hits rules. Its been a really long four months. Its been a really long 12 years. So, so tired. I want it to be over. Reporter when nathaniel comes out of surgery, he is halofree. But there will be five more months of evaluations and tests before doctors are ready to do something the newmans have waited a lifetime to do. Remove nathaniels trach. You ready . This is a big day in your life. Reporter and the newmans have another reason to celebrate. After five months of chemotherapy, doctors tell magda her cancer is gone. It is a year filled with happy birthday. Finally you are teenager and your trach is out. One, two, three. Happy birthday to you nathaniel celebrated his 13th birthday. On his birthday you wrote an amazing message. You, my Little Wonder boy, you show me every day that my strength pales in comparison to what you possess in that enormous heart of yours. I have a 13yearold boy thats tackled more challenges than most 100yearold men would ever dream of. What was it like to read that letter from your dad . I was happy. Yeah . Did you know that he thinks that youre that strong . Yeah. Yeah . Do you think hes right . Yeah. I dont know, actually. You dont know, actually . I think hes right. You think hes right . 100 right. Reporter after 13 years of heartache, struggle, perseverance, and triumph, today the newmans are on their way to a full circle surprise. Hello, newman family. Reporter its been a month since nathaniels trach came out. While he continues to recover, we brought the whole family to los angeles. Theyre here to meet someone whos been a lifeline for them from the very beginning. Newman family, i have somebody i want you to meet. Christina aguilera. Hi, guys. Oh my god, can i hug you . Were in Christina Aguileras house welcome. Lets go hang out. Reporter once everyone settles in, magda tells christina that it was her song all those years ago that gave her the strength to hold her baby boy for the first time and raise him to know how beautiful he is. Christina has one more surprise for you. What is it . Shes actually going to sing the song. Really . Wow. Are you ready for this . Reporter this time, not for an audience of millions. But for a family of four. For whom this song has meant so much. I am beautiful no matter what they say words cant bring me down reporter and just this week the whole family was back in los angeles for the premiere of the movie wonder. As they walked the red carpet, we were reminded of those words russ wrote in his birthday letter to nathaniel. You have shown me strength i never knew could exist. You even taught me to accept life with a smile. For nightline, im Elizabeth Vargas in los angeles. 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Nows your chance at completely clear skin. Thank you, ikea. Oh, john cant come. My uncle geoff just confirmed. The one thats always bringing a plusone . Yes, but weve got plusone insurance. Whats your dream . At ikea, we help you live it. Make the dream yours. cheering what if Home Security was different . What if it looked different . What if the measure of working, was that you never had to think about it. What if it was so easy to use, you actually used it. [alarm] you have 3 minutes to exit. What if it gave you time, and what you really need from Home Security. A sense of security. It feels good to be back. Thank you, ikea. Oh, john cant come. My uncle geoff just confirmed. The one thats always bringing a plusone . Yes, but weve got plusone insurance. Whats your dream . At ikea, we help you live it. Make the dream yours. cheering our thanks to Elizabeth Vargas and her team. Thank you for watching abc news. As always, were online at abcnews. Com and our Nightline Facebook page. 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