a convicted russian drug smuggler serving 20 years in the u.s. we believe that he probably saved our son s life. reporter: the two prisoners trading places between american and russian planes on a tarmac in turkey overnight reed was serving a nine-year sentence for allegedly assaulting two police officers in moscow held in what the family describes as squalid conditions, they say causing urgent health issues. he looks terrible to us. as a parent, we know he does not look well. he s very thin. he was walking strange, looked like they had to help him get up into the airplane. reporter: their son receiving medical care at a military hospital other americans jailed in russia are still waiting. basketball superstar brittney griner, arrested on drug charges in february. businessman paul whelan, another former marine, has served more than three years of a 16-year sentence. he spoke to his family last night from prison one of the first things he said was, why was i left behind? the