In february 2013, three teenagers injured and disabled mike wasike during a car jacking in des moines. Wasike injuries forcde him to do therapy outside of the state in oklahoma. So this Holiday Season was extra special. He got the ultimate gift this year. He was able come home for the holidays. Channel 13s mike dasilva has more. it feels complete. I can feel like my familys complete again, because we were pretty much like split apart with him being far. surrounded by family and friends, 39 yearold holidays. actually, if he didnt come back last week i would be in oklahoma today, i was planning to drive down yesterday until like january 2nd, so this means a lot to us, this is our Christmas Gift this year. wasike arrived at this care center in mitchellville last tuesday. He had been undergoing therapy at a rehabilitation clinic in tulsa, oklahoma. i had to plan a trip either once a month or twice a month and it would take me like nine hours to see him. mikes wife joan and their two kids sandrah and melvin live in des moines. for joan, having to travel to oklahoma to see mike was not easy, so having him here, closer to home, makes a world of difference. it meant a i had to pull the kids out of school. I had to get out of work to do that. Honestly it was just so hard for me and the kids and everybody involved and for mike too. He was missing us a lot. It wasnt always like this. Mike wasike and and his wife joan came to america well on their way. i went to dmu, i had just finished school, i was so excited you know, im going to get into my profession and work and raise the kids but i had to give up that. wasike, who has a masters degree in finance and worked as a credit analyst for wells fargo was heading home from his second job on february 26, 2013. When he encountered a truly horrific act of violence. Wasike was in the wrong place at the wrong time. At this intersection in des moines, because it was there that he was carjacked by three teenagers, leshaun murray, terrance cheeks jr. And kenneth barry. Wasike was severely beaten and left for dead. Murray struck wasike in the head with a handgun. Wasikes brain was injured, and as a result, he lost the ability to talk. hes been unable to eat too, hes on a feeding tube, and hes walk, so he needs pretty much a lot of support. Right mike . But, youre doing good. doctors have told joan that mikes condition has has plateaued. And this is how hes going to remain for the rest of his life. But despite that bleak prognosis, there are glimmers of hope, and mike is showing hopeful signs of improvement. his vision has really improved. Im really impressed about that because initially, we really thought he was blind, he was not able to track anything for almost one year and it was bad, but right now when you walk in , you basically can see, he can look at you, you can tell, and hes able to point out some stuff on the pictures, so thats why im keeping my hopes high you never know what might turn around. All three of the teenagers involved in the attack were convicted and are serving prison sentences. If you would like to help out this family. You can donate to the the greater des moines neighbor to neighbor foundation. The website is at the bottom of your screen. Which means throwing away that mess left behind from all those presents. Most of us would think its best to take the trash outside, but that may actually be sending the wrong message its always a good idea not to take high end items, the boxes and lay them out at the end of the driveway for criminals to potentially see what you got for christmas and possibly break into your house and take them. Sergeant herzog says its best to break the boxes down completely and cover them up. Or if you want to be extra cautious, even wait a week before taking them. He says criminals can drive through neighborhoods and easily spot which homes they would like to burglarize just from what they see in open trash bins. Its also almost just as important to have a Good Relationship with your neighbors if you want to avoid theft while you are away during the holidays. Outcue like someones home duration 0 10 let them know when you are going to be gone and they can come over. Maybe pay a neighbor kid to come shovel your driveway, always leave a light or tv on, make it appear like someones home. Fbi data says that the average Home Invasion during the family over 16hundred dollars in stolen items. If you bought gifts online this year, you Christmas Tree probably looked a little bare and youre not alone. Millions are expressing their frustration with fedex on social media for not delivering packages in time for the holiday. Alison kosik reports on what caused the delivery delays, and how to avoid it next year. To make up for the delays, fedex said some of its employees have volunteered to work on christmas to deliver delayed packages to customers. Fedex is doing Everything Possible to get customer shipments delivered by christmas in spite of slight delays due to heavier than planned lastminute shipment volumes and Severe Weather outbreaks in some areas of the u. S. , fedex spokeswoman rae lyn rushing said in a statement. The Delivery Company said priority is being given to residential shipments on friday. Fedex will also try to get packages to customers who were not at home to accept deliveries on thursday. Fedex express stores will be open from 9 a. M. To 1 p. M. On christmas so that customers can packages. Anger toward fedex bubbled over on social Media Thursday night and friday morning, as people blamed the Delivery Company for ruining their holiday. Many people called fedex the christmas grinch. Some ups packages were delayed as well, though fedexs rival seemed to be less impacted by the storms. There may be some individuals who had some delayed packages, but overall, most people got the packages they were promised, said peggy gardner, spokeswoman for ups, in an email. There hasnt been a big issue with packages not being delivered. Social media was much kinder to ups than fedex. The shipment delays echo 2013, when both ups and fedex were unable to deliver many packages for christmas due to similarly severe Winter Weather. Both shipping Companies Got off to a bad start this Holiday Season, as they failed to keep up with a rgefastminute online ders two wes ago. But ups and fedex seemed to veighted the ship over the stweek at least, until both ups and fedex say they had similar delivery delays back in 2013 due to severe Winter Weather. The city of johnston is looking for a new leader to head their police department. Longtime police chief bill vaughn has announced hes retiring. Again. Vaughn originally stepped down eight years ago but came back when the department needed an interim chief. In his time, the johnston pd grew greatly. They got a new 14 Million DollarPublic Safety building. And became one of the first departments to wear body cameras. Hell step down in march. Iowa is giving the gift of snow to a cuba native. Josh fernandez is a semi driving and this is the first time he has driven in the hes really enjoying the white holiday. the snow isnt comfortable, to drive in but its cute mdash; its pretty everything is white. Fernandez is from chicago and is hauling u. S. Mail from chicago to oregon. For the cuba native, this is his first christmas away from his family as well. But being on the phone with them and getting photos of their celebration. Is bringing him home for the holidays in a nontraditional way. She say we are wishing you a Merry Christmas. They sent me a picture, and they say youre not here, a chair is here waiting for you. Fernandez has one more day of driving before he gets back to his family in oregon. Still ahead on today in iowa saturday. Its a gift thats out of this world. And is flying into the hands of millions this holiday. How businesses are showing drones paris theres a lot to do on a dairy farm. Nobodys gonna do it for you. You have to get out there and do it yourself. Bernie sanders is a wellknown friend of family farms. Bernie cannot be bought out by big money. Bernies opinion cannot be purchased. Its time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big business, take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. Hes a rock. Theres no feeling like opening your presents on Christmas Morning. No matter how old you get. Good morning and welcome back to today in iowa saturday. Megan, how was spending christmas with your family . We hear you got a fun new gadget a Winter Weather advisory remains in effect until noon for North Central iowa. A mix of light snow, freezing drizzle and rain will continue to cross Northern Iowa leading to slick roads in the northernmost part of the state this morning. Light rain showers and drizzle will pass through central iowa this morning. Skies will stay cloudy through the day and temperatures will hold steady in the mid to upper 30s. Sunday will be the calm before the storm with partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures will stay chilly in the low 30s. A strong storm system will push into iowa from the south on monday. This will bring heavy snow across the state beginning first thing monday morning and not tapering off until after 7 pm. Some freezing rain may the afternoon. Snow totals ranging from 5 to 8 will be common with some locally higher amounts. Conditions will be poor for travel on monday. Still ahead on today in iowa saturday. We may have just still ahead on today in iowa saturday. We may have just wrapped up christmas, but another holiday is still on its way. Where you can take the whole family this new years eve. And why it wont cost you one penny. Good morning and welcome back to today in iowa saturday. Were now looking ahead to new years. Im joined now by Tiffany Tauscheck of the greater des moines partnership. Shes here to tell us about an Upcoming Event thats one big kid party. Yes you can take them to imagineve on new years eve. So 4 to 8 pm the kids can run free in hyvee hall. Theres inflatables, live music, bounce houses, games. Theres also a small kid area and tweens. Its safe and fun. At 8, there will be a confetti drop, then 8 15 there will be fireworks. Our goal is to provide a safe, friendly environment for kids. Theres parking on the streets at fifth and crocker, need to be there. We have a kid find area, we have safety precautions. Thanks for joining us tiffany, we will its estimated that up to a million americans woke up Christmas Morning to find a drone under the tree. But the drone revolution taking place isnt just for personal use. Unmanned aircraft are revolutionizing business, improving safety and changing the way we see our world. And as tom costello reports the pace of change is catching many by surprise. Gps is locked, compass is good. Buzz buzz ski season was still bolton valley, vermont this fall. Im looking for. When the annual lift a flyby. Air shark snapping photos shooting video of the pulleys and cables that will carry 150thousand skiers this winter. Pitch it into the wind at about 5 degrees. Then, a closeup look at a nearby wind farm, looking for cracks in the turbines. The beauty is that now we dont need to send someone up there just to check on it. A vast improvement in safety, and a cost savings approaching 90 nationwide, this is the year drones have gone from gimmick to revolutionary to indispensable . Providing instant aerial recon of a farmers crops, surveying commercial aircraft for storm damage, measuring the shrinking arctic ice pack, and surveying offshore oil rigs. Legally flying a commercial drone requires a waiver from the faa among the most common uses for drones, commercial real estate, along with film and photography. Already the faa has issued more than 2,100 exemptions for commercial drone use. In maryland, kevin kinsey has invested in a drone and hd realtors market their homes on the internet. We are sitting here on a 50 acre farm. And you just cant capture that with a photograph. The business of drones is taking off california leads the country with the most operators, followed by florida and texas. In marin, texas, usaa insurance is testing drones, hoping inspectors will no longer have to spend 45 minutes looking at roof damage. And with a one minute flight time to gather the data, maybe you are reviewing the data from 15 or 20 minutes. The drone revolution is about speed, safety, and spectacular imagery from weddings and ski vacations to Mountain Bike races. And science too researchers have been scrutinizing incredible, overhead views of endangered killer whales nursing their young off seattle. As we all get a new birds tom costello nbc news, that sound. Like nails on a chalkboard. But listen to this family talking thats a different kind of sound. The sound of the weekend. Unleash the power of dough. Give it a pop. Its always worth remembering. That icing the Cinnamon Rolls is a privilege not a right. Unleash the power of dough. A mix of precipitation is moving across the state this morning. A Winter Weather advisory is in iowa. This is where we will have roads that are partially to mostly snow and ice covered through the morning. The remainder of the day will be cloudy with areas of drizzle and light showers from time to time. Temperatures will hold in the people around the world celebrated christmas yesterday. The president offered a message of hope. While troops overseas honored those killed this week. Edward lawrence has more from washington. A somber christmas in afghanistan where military members honored six americans killed this week by a suicide bomber. This was especially important here where we got the opportunity to remember those who we have also lost. More than 200,000 us troops are spending christmas far from home. Including 4,000 celebrating in the african country of djibouti. Commander in chief recorded a message with the first lady. They thanked those serving in the military while reminding the nation about the christmas spirit. Treating one another with love and compassion. Caring for those on societys margins the sick and the hungry, pope francis also offered his message of hope. He called for renewed talks between israel and the palestinians. The pope spoke out against terrorism and prayed for those affected by terrorist attacks. Specifically mentioning the one in paris last month. As many celebrated. People in mississippi and several other states hit by tornadoes the past few days cleaned up. At least 14 people died. In holly springs, mississippi the Community Stepped up. Weve got red cross has been assisting the people that have lost their homes. Weve had numerous churches open up their doors and let people stay the night. Others helped the those less fortunate from coast to coast. In washington, dc a man who used hundreds of homeless. Its an annual tradition pulled off with volunteers. People gathered in a southern chinese city this morning, to remember the victims of last sundays landslide disaster. Sirens sounded exactly six days after the landslide took place, residents, officials and soldiers, all paid tribute to those who died. Dozens of people were buried and 33 buildings collapsed when a huge mound of soil and construction waste collapsed. It happened in an Industrial Park that included factories, Office Buildings and dorms. So far, 75 people are still missing and the rescue operation continues. A grass fire is spreading out of control and threatening homes in Southern California. The brush fire in Southern California quickly spread to more than 900 acres early this morning. More than 100 firefighters are trying to control the fire that has burned through more than 900 acres this morning. Fire investigators said at least 30 homes are in the fires path. Pacific coast highway and halted railroad traffic. No word yet on what started the fire. Some parts of the us saw severe storms and tornadoes this holiday. Including mississippi, tennessee and arkansas. The death toll has risen to 14 people. Ranging from ages seven to seventy. To make thing worse, another round of Severe Weather could hit the south this weekend just as millions of holiday travelers are expected to return home on the roads or by air. Mark potter reports. In holly springs, mississippi families spent Christmas Day trying to salvage what they could. They speak of the grinch who stole christmas. It spared our lives. The season of giving took on new meaning in this community. Merry christmaswith donations pouring in christmas toys, along with food and clothes. Its going to make it a lot better. Because we came out with the when something happen like this, we all come together and make sure everybody is taken care of. Ive been on National Disasters that did not have as much support as this county has and im quite frankly flatten amazed. Around clarksdale, as many as twenty homes are gone. My heart goes out to these people. Theyre in pain and it hurts me to see them suffer. Were going to take care of them though as best we canso far 14 people are confirmed dead across three states. The youngest was 7 year old Nicholas Pulmory who was killed in mississippi. Just to think theres a parent out there who doesnt have their kid. Max and ellen croxton, together for 30 years, died in their home. Their daughter took to facebook thanking friends and family for the outpouring of support. Adding. I know i will see them again one day. It doesnt make the heartache any less painful though. In tennessee, 70yearold Antonio Yzaguirre and his 69yearold wife annie were killed. Three teenagers also died in that state. E warm weather system thatspawned these iers is blamedfor the torrential rain in georgia. That is our pic