NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Aug. 20

>>> TONIGHT, HURRICANE ERIN. HEADING CLOSER TO. THE EAST COAST WITH. WINDS OF UP TO 110. MILES PER HOUR. PARTS OF NORTH. CAROLINA ALREADY. FEELING ERIN'S. SURGE. THE EYE OF THE STORM. SEEN FROM SPACE. DANGEROUS LIFE-. THREATENING SURF AND. RIP CURRENTS FORCING. BEACHES TO CLOSE. ALONG THE EASTERN. SEABOARD FOR DAYS. TROPICAL STORM. WARNINGS FROM NORTH. CAROLINA ALL THE WAY. TO VIRGINIA.

>>> ALSO BREAKING. TONIGHT, NO SIGN OF. PEACE AS THE BOMBING. CONTINUES IN GAZA. ISRAEL CALLING UP TO. 60,000 RESERVISTS. THE NEW PLAN TO TAKE. OVER GAZA CITY. >>> AND IN TEXAS, THE PARENTS THAT. LOST SO MUCH. DEMANDING ANSWERS. THE HEART-BREAKING. TESTIMONY FROM. PARENTS OF THE CAMP. MYSTIC CAMPERS WHO. DIED IN THE. DEVASTATING JULY 4th. FLASH FLOODS. ONE MOTHER STILL. AWAITING THE REMAINS. OF HER DAUGHTER. >>> THE FREAK SHARK. ATTACK RIGHT ON THE. BEACH. A FISHERMAN POSING. WITH A BIG CATCH.

UNTIL IT CATCHES A. CHUNK OF HIS LEG. WHAT HE TOLD US. AFTER SURGERY. >>> HOMICIDE. INVESTIGATORS IN LOS. ANGELES EXAMINING. THIS CHILLING VIDEO. DID A HUSBAND KILL. HIS WIFE AND DRAG. HER BODY OUT IN A. BAG? HOW POLICE SAY HE. FLED TO PERU WITH. THEIR CHILDREN. >>> IN WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT TRUMP. ORDERING A COMPLETE. REVIEW OF THE. SMITHSONIAN AND. OTHER MUSEUMS. EVEN ACCUSING IT OF. FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON. HOW BAD SLAVERY WAS. >>> A YOUNG WOMAN. BATTLING TO GET.

SPINAL SURGERY WHILE. BATTLING HER. INSURANCE COMPANY. HER FATHER TAKING TO. TIKTOK FOR HELP. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER. WE STARTED ASKING. QUESTIONS. OUR "COST OF DENIAL". TONIGHT. >>> AND ROB. GRONKOWSKI'S EPIC. ADVENTURE. THE DUCK BOAT, THE. SLIDE, THE SPIKE, AND THE TEARS. THE PLAYGROUND. UNLIKE ANY OTHER. "NIGHTLY NEWS". STARTS RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH. TOM LLAMAS. >>> GOOD EVENING.

THE OUTER BANDS OF. HURRICANE ERIN ARE. SET TO LASH THE EAST. COAST. ALREADY TONIGHT, PARTS OF NORTH. CAROLINA ARE FEELING. THE IMPACTS OF THIS. POWERFUL STORM. LOOK AT THAT THERE. THE EYE OF THE. HURRICANE, YOU SEE. IT HERE, FROM THE. INTERNATIONAL SPACE. STATION. MASSIVE. THE PICTURESQUE. HOMES ALONG NORTH. CAROLINA'S COAST ARE. ABOUT TO SUSTAIN. WINDS REACHING UP TO. 55 MILES PER HOUR. AND PUNISHING STORM. SURGE THAT COULD. ERASE ROADS. BEACHES SPANNING THE. EASTERN SEABOARD ARE. CLOSED AS DANGEROUS.

SURF AND LIFE-. THREATENING RIP. CURRENTS WITH WAVES. POSSIBLE UP TO 20. FEET. WE BEGIN TONIGHT. WITH AARON GILCHRIST. THERE ON THE BEACH. IN NORTH CAROLINA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, NORTH. CAROLINA'S OUTER. BANKS ARE UNDER A. STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND STARTING TO FEEL. THE EARLY EFFECTS OF. HURRICANE ERIN. >> FOLKS ON THE. COAST NEED TO TAKE. CARE. >> Reporter: DANGEROUS WAVES. ALREADY PUMMELING. LOWER HATTERAS. ISLAND WITH MORE. STORM SURGE AND.

TROPICAL STORM-FORCE. WINDS TO COME. THE COMBINATION. POSING A REAL THREAT. TO THE OCEANFRONT. MOTEL. 96-YEAR-OLD CAROL. WHITE DYLAN IS. WORRIED HER 70-YEAR-. OLD BUSINESS COULD. BE CRIPPLED BY THE. STORM. >> I'M WORRIED ABOUT. LOSING MY BEACH. HOUSES. YES. BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR. MONEYMAKERS. >> Reporter: YOU. THINK THAT'S A REAL. POSSIBILITY AT THIS. TIME? >> WELL, I'M HOPING. NOT. BUT -- IT'S --. POSSIBLE. >> Reporter: LOCAL. OFFICIALS BRACING. FOR THE LIFE-. THREATENING IMPACTS. AND OVERWHELMING. STORM SURGE COULD. MAKE THE ONLY. HIGHWAY OFF HATTERAS. ISLAND IMPASSABLE.

IF THESE ROADS WASH. OUT, LIVES AND. LIVELIHOODS ARE ON. THE LINE. >> WE'RE LOOKING AT. HOW WE CAN QUICKLY. GET BACK UP AND. RUNNING BECAUSE THIS. IS ALSO OUR TOURIST. SEASON. AND THIS IS WHERE WE. MAKE OUR MONEY FOR. THE WINTER. >> Reporter: VIDEO. FROM THE. INTERNATIONAL SPACE. STATION SHOWING. ERIN'S MASSIVE SIZE. HUNDREDS OF MILES. ACROSS. PUTTING THE WHOLE. EAST COAST ON HIGH. ALERT. >> THESE ARE LIFE-. THREATENING RIP. CURRENTS AND YOU. SHOULD NOT BE IN THE. WATER. >> Reporter: FUELED. BY THOSE DANGEROUS. RIP CURRENTS, MANY. BEACHES HAVE BANNED. SWIMMING ALONG THE. EASTERN SEABOARD. >> THIS IS MOTHER. NATURE IN HER FURY. >> Reporter: ON THE. JERSEY SHORE, EARLY.

SIGNS OF ERIN. STARTING TO APPEAR. AS OFFICIALS WARN. RESIDENTS TO TAKE IT. SERIOUSLY. >> WE -- WE WILL. FEEL THE EFFECTS IN. THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND IT WILL PROBABLY. TAKE SOME REAL. ESTATE WITH IT AS. WELL. >> Reporter: FARTHER. NORTH IN MAINE, ROUGH SURF VISIBLE. BACK IN NORTH. CAROLINA, THE TIME. TO LEAVE THE. EVACUATION ZONE HAS. PASSED. THE HOLDOUTS NOW. LEANING ON THEIR. PREPARATIONS AND. HOPE. SO YOU FEEL PRETTY. SAFE. >> WELL, I WOULD. NEVER LEAVE. LET'S PUT IT THAT. WAY. >> WITH THAT, AARON. GILCHRIST JOINS US.

LIVE TONIGHT FROM. KILL DEVIL HILLS, NORTH CAROLINA. GET THE VIEWERS UP. TO SPEED HERE ABOUT. WHERE EXACTLY. HURRICANE IS --. HURRICANE ERIN IS. RIGHT NOW AND THE. PATH, AARON. >> Reporter: WELL, TOM, WE ARE STARTING. TO REALLY FEEL AND. SEE THE EFFECTS OF. HURRICANE ERIN HERE. THE TROPICAL STORM. WARNING REMAINS IN. EFFECT HERE. THAT STORM IS STILL. SEVERAL MILES OFF. THE COAST. WE EXPECT IT TO MOVE. UP THE EAST COAST. TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. BEFORE TURNING OUT. TO SEA FRIDAY AND. SATURDAY. WE KNOW THAT IT'S. NOT GOING TO MAKE. LANDFALL HERE. BUT BEACH CONDITIONS.

WE DO EXPECT WILL BE. DIFFICULT FOR. ANYBODY WHO MIGHT. TRY TO GET TOO CLOSE. TO THE WATER. IT'S GOING TO BE A. MAJOR WATER EVENT. AND WE'RE TALKING. ABOUT COASTAL. FLOODING, WE'RE. TALKING ABOUT STORM. SURGE AND OTHER. CONDITIONS HERE AT. THE BEACH. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT, AARON, WE THANK YOU FOR. THAT. >>> WE WANT TO TURN. NOW TO THE MIDEAST. AND THE MAJOR. ANNOUNCEMENT BY. ISRAEL. EXPANDING ITS WAR. AGAINST HAMAS INSIDE. OF GAZA WITH A MAJOR. OFFENSIVE IN GAZA'S. LARGEST CITY. HERE'S ANDREA. MITCHELL. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A DESPERATE. SCRAMBLE IN GAZA. 23-YEAR-OLD SAJA. HAMED. YOU CAN ONLY SEE HER.

HEAD AS SHE'S. TRAPPED BY CONCRETE. AND STEEL. AFTER AN ISRAELI AIR. STRIKE. FINALLY PULLED FROM. THE RUBBLE ALIVE. AS ISRAEL STARTED. EXPANDING ITS WAR. AGAINST HAMAS, CALLING UP 60,000. RESERVES AND. EXTENDING THE TOUR. OF 20,000 ALREADY ON. ACTIVE DUTY TO TAKE. CONTROL OF GAZA. CITY, HOME TO A. MILLION PEOPLE. A CONTROVERSIAL. DECISION BY PRIME. MINISTER BENJAMIN. NETANYAHU, HIS. OFFICE SAYS FOR THE. DEFEAT OF HAMAS. BUT OPPOSED BY. FAMILIES OF HAMAS. HOSTAGES.

TODAY, CALLING FOR. ISRAEL TO ACCEPT. HAMAS' NEW OFFER OF. A 60 DAY CEASE-FIRE. AND THE RELEASE OF. TEN OF THE 20. SURVIVING ISRAELI. HOSTAGES. BUT HAMAS STILL. REFUSING TO RELEASE. THEM ALL AT ONCE. WHICH ISRAEL AND. PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE. CALLING FOR. >> HE WANTS ALL THE. HOSTAGES BACK AND. THAT'S THE POSITION. THAT WE HAVE. WE WANT ALL THE. HOSTAGES BACK. >> Reporter: IN A. NATIONWIDE STRIKE, HUNDREDS OF. THOUSANDS OF. ISRAELIS MARCHED. AGAINST THE WAR ON. SUNDAY. THE HEAD OF THE ARMY. IS ALSO OPPOSED. ARGUING MORE. FIGHTING COULD. ENDANGER SURVIVING. HOSTAGES.

CONCERNS ECHOED BY. AMERICAN HOSTAGE. MOTHER ORNA NEUTRA, WHOSE SON OMER WAS. KILLED DURING THE. HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS. ON OCTOBER 7th. >> WE HAVE ALREADY. SEEN WHAT HAMAS. DOES. THEY WON'T HESITATE. TO EXECUTE THE. HOSTAGES. >> Reporter: ISRAEL'S MILITARY. HAS SAID THE NEW. OFFENSIVE COULD TAKE. FIVE TO SIX MONTHS. TOM? >> ANDREA MITCHELL. FOR US TONIGHT. ANDREA, THANK YOU. >>> BACK HERE AT. HOME, POWERFUL AND. HEART-BREAKING. TESTIMONY TONIGHT. FROM THE PARENTS OF. SOME OF THE 27. SUMMER CAMPERS. KILLED DURING RAGING. FLOODS IN TEXAS.

THEY'RE DEMANDING. ACTION, SAYING THEIR. DAUGHTERS' DEATHS. WERE PREVENTABLE. HERE'S MORGAN CHESKY. WITH THOSE MOMENTS. >> THIS WAS 100%. PREVENTABLE. >> Reporter: TODAY, IN AUSTIN. >> MY BABY GIRL IS. STILL MISSING. >> Reporter: PARENTS. WHO LOST DAUGHTERS. WHEN FLOODS. DESTROYED CAMP. MYSTIC POURING OUT. THEIR HEARTS AND. DEMANDING ACTION. 27 GIRLS WERE. KILLED. THE MOTHER OF SEAL. STEWART, THE ONLY. CAMPER WHOSE BODY. HAS NOT BEEN FOUND,

SAID THEY WERE. BETRAYED BY CAMP. OFFICIALS WHO WERE. UNPREPARED. >> PROTOCOLS THAT. SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN. PLACE WERE IGNORED. AS A RESULT, MY. DAUGHTER WAS STOLEN. FROM US. >> Reporter: THE. PARENTS SUPPORTING. NEW LEGISLATION THAT. WOULD BAR LICENSES. FOR CAMPS THAT PLACE. CABINS IN. FLOODPLAINS AND. REQUIRE CAMPS TO. CONDUCT EVACUATION. DRILLS. >> SHE WAS SO KIND. THE MOST GENTLE. LITTLE GIRL WHO. FIERCELY LOVED HER. LITTLE SISTERS AND. ALL HER FRIENDS. >> Reporter: BLAKE. AND CAITLIN BONNER.

SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR. BELOVED 9-YEAR-OLD. DAUGHTER, LILA. >> WHY WERE OUR. CHILDREN SLEEPING IN. A KNOWN HIGH RISK. FLOOD ZONE? >> Reporter: LAWMAKERS LISTENING, SOME IN TEARS. PASSING THE BILL OUT. OF COMMITTEE AS. HEART-BROKEN PARENTS. PRESS ON. >> WHAT I DO KNOW IS. THAT MY DAUGHTER. SHOULD STILL BE. HERE. WE CAN'T LET. COMPLACENCY CLAIM. THE LIFE OF ANOTHER. CHILD. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT, CAMP MYSTIC. TELLING NBC NEWS. THEY WORKED TO. QUOTE, ENSURE A SAFE. AND SUPPORTIVE. ENVIRONMENT, ADDING. THEY ALSO SUPPORT. ANY LEGISLATION THAT. WOULD MAKE CAMPS.

SAFER. TOM? >> YOU FEEL FOR ALL. THE PARENTS THERE. OKAY. MORGAN, WE THANK YOU. FOR THE STORY. >>> NOW TO THE NEW. COMMENTS FROM. PRESIDENT TRUMP. ACCUSING THE. SMITHSONIAN OF. BASHING AMERICA, INCLUDING FOCUSING. ON HOW BAD SLAVERY. WAS INSTEAD OF THE. COUNTRY'S SUCCESSES. HERE'S GABE. GUTIERREZ. IT'S SPARKING. BACKLASH TONIGHT. >> Reporter:TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS. ESCALATING HIS WAR. AGAINST WHAT HE. CALLS THE LAST. REMAINING SEGMENT OF. WOKE. ACCUSING THE. SMITHSONIAN OF BEING.

OUT OF CONTROL. WHERE EVERYTHING. DISCUSSED IS HOW. HORRIBLE OUR COUNTRY. IS. HOW BAD SLAVERY WAS. AND HOW. UNACCOMPLISHED THE. DOWNTRODDEN HAVE. BEEN. NOTHING ABOUT. SUCCESS. NOTHING ABOUT. BRIGHTNESS. NOTHING ABOUT THE. FUTURE. >> WE WANT THE. MUSEUMS TO TALK. ABOUT THE HISTORY OF. OUR COUNTRY IN A. FAIR MANNER, NOT IN. A WOKE MANNER OR A. RACIST MANNER. >> Reporter: A. DIFFERENT TONE THAN. HIS FIRST TERM WHEN. HE TOURED THE. SMITHSONIAN'S. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF. AFRICAN AMERICAN. HISTORY AND CULTURE. >> THIS MUSEUM IS A. -- BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE. TO SO MANY AMERICAN. HEROES. >> Reporter: IN MAY,

NBC NEWS FOUND THAT. AT LEAST 32. ARTIFACTS THAT WERE. ONCE ON DISPLAY AT. THAT MUSEUM HAD BEEN. REMOVED. THAT CAME AFTER THE. PRESIDENT SIGNED AN. EXECUTIVE ORDER IN. MARCH, SAYING THE. SMITHSONIAN WAS. INFLUENCED BY A. DIVISIVE RACE. CENTERED IDEOLOGY. THAT PORTRAYS. AMERICAN AND WESTERN. VALUES AS INHERENTLY. HARMFUL AND. OPPRESSIVE. ATTORNEY LINDSEY. HALLIGAN IS LEADING. THE WHITE HOUSE. REVIEW. >> WE'RE JUST HOPING. TO KEEP THINGS. POSITIVE. AND FOCUS ON. AMERICA'S 250th. BIRTHDAY. >> Reporter: BUT THE. PRESIDENT'S COMMENT. ABOUT SLAVERY.

DRAWING BACKLASH. >> SOMEBODY, YOU. KNOW, SAYS SOMETHING. LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS DOWNRIGHT. OFFENSIVE. AND TO A GREATER. EXTENT, I THINK IT'S. EVIL. >> Reporter: WHILE. AMONG TOURISTS IN. D.C. TODAY, MIXED. REACTIONS. >> I'M OPEN TO EVERY. ENTITY UNDERGOING A. REVIEW. >> THEY'RE NOT TOO. WOKE. THEY HONESTLY SPEAK. THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS. COUNTRY'S HISTORY. >> Reporter: THE. SMITHSONIAN DIDN'T. RESPOND TO A REQUEST. FOR COMMENT. 62% OF ITS FUNDING.

COMES FROM THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TOM? >> GABE GUTIERREZ, GABE, THANK YOU. >>> TURN NOW TO THE. MAN NO WHO FOUND OUT. HOW DANGEROUS SHARKS. CAN BE. WHILE TRYING TO POSE. FOR A PHOTO. OUR GEORGE SOLIS. SPEAK TO HIM MOMENTS. AGO INSIDE OF. HOSPITAL. >> Reporter: IN AN. INSTANT, THIS PHOTO. WORTHY MOMENT --. TURNED INTO A TRIP. TO THE HOSPITAL FOR. THIS FLORIDA. FISHERMAN. >> THE CORNER OF HIS. MOUTH HE COMES. AROUND AND JUST. GRABS A LITTLE BIT. >> Reporter: WHILE.

POSING WITH A LEMON. SHARK HIS AND. FRIENDS CAUGHT, SEAN. MUESE WAS UNEXPECTLY. BITTEN. SPEAKING FROM HIS. HOSPITAL BED, HE SAYS IT ALL. HAPPENED SO FAST. >> I WAS THE ONING. TELLING, YOU KNOW, PUT THE TOURNIQUET. ON. WE NEED IT TIGHTER. WE HAVE TO ELEVATE. MY LEG. >> Reporter: HIS. FRIENDS ACTED FAST. TOO. HE WAS THEN. AIRLIFTED TO THE. HOSPITAL. FLORIDA FISH AND. WILDLIFE SAY SOME. SHARKS ARE PROTECTED. IN FLORIDA. IT IS ILLEGAL TO. HARVEST, POSSESS OR. LAND THEM AND IF. CAUGHT THEY MUST. REMAIN IN THE WATER. AND RELEASED. IMMEDIATELY. WITH THEIR GILLS. SUBMERGED. >> HARD TO TAKE A --.

HOOK OUT OF A SHARK. WHEN IT'S STILL. SWIMMING. WE DIDN'T WANT TO. LEAVE THE LOOK IN. THERE. WE CAN TAKE IT OUT. YOU TAKE IT OUT. WHY CUT IT? >> Reporter: THE 48-. YEAR-OLD IS EXPECTED. TO MAKE A FULL. RECOVERY DOCTORS. SAY. AND VOWS TO GO BACK. TO HIS PASSION, FISHING. >> MIGHT AS WELL BE. IN GOOD SPIRITS. ABOUT IT AND LAUGH. ABOUT IT BECAUSE --. THIS WAS WHAT ELSE. ARE YOU GOING TO DO. ABOUT IT? YOU CAN'T CHANGE. WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: GEORGE. SOLIS, NBC NEWS,

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. >>> WELL, TURN NOW. TO THE SERIES THE. COST OF DENIAL. THE STORY OF ONE. FAMILY'S STRUGGLE TO. GET COVERAGE FOR THE. SURGERY NEEDED BY A. YOUNG WOMAN LIVING. WITH DEBILITATING. PAIN. THE COVERAGE DENIED. TWICE BUT THAT. CHANGED ONE DAY. AFTER NBC'S ELLISON. BARBER REACHED OUT. >> Reporter: HORROR. WRITER RAFT JAMES. WHITE DOESN'T MINCE. WORDS ABOUT HIS. INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN YOU THINK OF. AETNA, WHAT WORD OR. WORDS COME TO MIND? >> CALLOUS. UNFEELING. GREEDY. >> Reporter: HE. FIRST CAME TO OUR. ATTENTION WITH A. VIRAL TIKTOK. >> MY DAUGHTER IS IN. PAIN.

>> Reporter: ABOUT. HIS DAUGHTER, NAHLA. >> I HAVE BEEN. PAYING FOR THIS. INSURANCE FOR YEARS. AND THEY WILL DO. NOTHING BUT JUST. KEEP TAKING MY. MONEY. >> Reporter: DIAGNOSED WITH. DEGENERATIVE DISC. DISEASE AT 15. NAHLA WHITE SAYS HER. TEENS WERE DICTATED. BY PAIN. ON A SCALE OF 1 TO. 10 THE WALK FROM THE. ROOM TO YOUR KITCHEN. TO MAKE BREAKFAST. HOW PAINFUL COULD. THAT BE? >> IT WOULD GO PAST. 10. LIKE 11.

>> Reporter: LIVING. JUST OUTSIDE AUSTIN, TEXAS, YEARS OF. TREATMENTS INCLUDING. PHYSICAL THERAPY. FAILED HER. SHE FOUND A VOICE. FOR THE PAIN THROUGH. ART. >> PAIN IS GETTING. WORSE. AND THE DEPRESSION. THAT GOES WITH IT. BECAUSE YOU KIND OF. FEEL LIKE THERE'S --. NO HOPE. >> Reporter: HER. MOTHER CHRISTINE HAD. SIMILAR ISSUES WITH. HER NECK AND BACK. WHEN SHE WAS. YOUNGER. >> IT'S PROBABLY ONE. OF THE WORST THINGS. THAT YOU CAN GO. THROUGH. WATCHING YOUR. DAUGHTER GOTHROUGH.

PAIN AND I THINK FOR. MES, IT WAS ON A. DIFFERENT LEVEL. BECAUSE I KNOW THE. PAIN. >> Reporter: MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS. GAVE THEM THE SAME. ADVICE. >> THE FIRST DOCTOR. WHO SAID SHE NEEDS. SURGERY. WE --TOOK A PAUSE. SAID WE'RE GOING TO. GET A SECOND. OPINION. IT WAS THE SECOND. DOCTOR WHO TOLD US. YES, SHE NEEDS. SURGERY. THAT'S WHEN --. THIRD. OKAY. >> Reporter: BUT. THEIR INSURANCE. PROVIDER, AETNA, DENIED COVERAGE FOR. THE SURGERY AND THEN. DENIED THEIR APPEAL. SAYING IT WAS NOT.

MEDICALLY NECESSARY. >> THEY'RE JUST. HOPING THAT IF THEY. DENY IT ENOUGH. TIMES, THAT YOU WILL. GET TIRED OF. FIGHTING IT AND YOU. WILL GO AWAY AND. JUST DEAL WITH RAIN. IT IS TERRIBLE. >> Reporter: DESPERATE, THE. FAMILY RAISED MONEY. ONLINE IN PART BY. SELLING NAHLA'S ART. TO FUND THE SURGERY. THEMSELVES. AETNA DECLINED AN. INTERVIEW FOR THIS. STORY BUT WHEN WE. ASKED ABOUT NAHLA'S. CASE, THEY EMAILED. THE VERY NEXT DAY, SAYING IN PART, AETNA HAS APPROVED. COVERAGE FOR HER. BACK SURGERY. NAHLA ALREADY HAD.

THE PROCEDURE WEEKS. BEFORE AND HER. PARENTS DIDN'T LEARN. ABOUT THE APPROVAL. UNTIL WE SAT DOWN. FOR OUR INTERVIEW. THEIR RESPONSE TO ME. WAS THIS. ELLISON, BASED ON. ADDITIONAL. DOCUMENTATION. PROVIDED BY MISS. WHITE'S SURGEON. AFTER THE PREVIOUS. APPEAL WAS. COMPLETED, AETNA HAS. APPROVED COVERAGE. FOR HER BACK. SURGERY? SO I FOLLOWED UP. WITH THEM AND THEY. SAID, ELLISON, COVERAGE DECISION. WAS MADE TODAY AND. COMMUNICATED. VERBALLY TO MISS. WHITE'S SURGEON IN A. PHONE CONVERSATION. >> WE HAD TO FUND. THIS SURGERY. OURSELVES. THAT GO FUND ME. WE RAISED OVER.

$33,000 FROM. FRIENDS, FAMILY, PEOPLE WHO DON'T. EVEN KNOW US. >> NOTHING ADDS UP. NOTHING ADDS UP. >> YEAH. IT WAS MADE AFTER. THEY SAW YOUR EMAIL. THEY SAW NBC NEWS. AND DECIDED WE DON'T. WANT THIS PUBLICITY. SO WE'RE GOING TO. APPROVE IT NOW. >> Reporter: DO YOU. THINK AETNA WOULD. HAVE REVERSED THEIR. DENIAL IF THEY. DIDN'T THINK YOU. WERE GOING TO BE A. PART OF NBC'S COST. OF DENIAL SERIES? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> Reporter: NAHLA, NOW DOING BETTER. AFTER HER SURGERY. THE RELIEF FROM HER. PAIN A LIFE-CHANGING. EVENT. HER FAMILY NOW. HOPEFUL FOR RELIEF. FROM THE FINANCIAL. PAIN AS WELL. >> AND WITH THAT, ELLISON JOINS US. LIVE. ELLISON, GREAT SHE. FINALLY GOT THE. SURGERY. THEY HAD TO PAY FOR. IT. HAVE THEY BEEN. REIMBURSED YET? >> Reporter: THE. BIGGEST BILLS, THOSE. ARE STILL. OUTSTANDING. THEY'RE WORKING WITH. THEIR DOCTORS AS. WELL AS TALKING WITH. AETNA TRYING TO GET. ALL OF THAT FIGURED. OUT. BUT IT'S BEEN. COMPLICATED. AND BIG PICTURE, THEY ARE STILL. FRUSTRATED AND MAD. THIS WAS DENIED IN. THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THEY ARE. CONVINCED THAT THE. REVERSAL IN THEIR. VIEW WAS BECAUSE OF. THIS SERIES. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT. GREAT WORK TONIGHT. ELLISON, WE THANK. YOU FOR THAT. IF YOU HAVE A STORY. YOU WANTED TO SHARE. FOR OUR SERIES EMAIL. US PLEASE AT THE. COSTOFDENIAL@NBCUNI. COM. >>> ALL RIGHT, IN 60. SECONDS, THE NEW. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. RAISING EYEBROWS. IT IS SHOCKING. OF A MAN, NOW A. PERSON OF INTEREST, DRAGGING A LARGE. SACK ON THE NIGHT. HIS WIFE WENT. MISSING BEFORE.

>>> BACK NOW WITH A. >>> WE ARE BACK NOW. WITH A STUNNING. PIECE OF SECURITY. VIDEO CAPTURING A. MAN DRAGGING A BAG. WITH WHAT APPEARS TO. BE A HEAVY OBJECT. INSIDE. INVESTIGATORS SAY. HIS WIFE'S BODY WAS. LATER FOUND IN. SIMILAR MATERIAL IN. A FOREST WHILE THE. MAN FLED TO PERU. HERE'S DANA GRIFFIN. >> Reporter: CHILLING. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. SHOWS A MAN DRAGGING. THIS HEAVY SACK. OUTSIDE A SOUTHERN. CALIFORNIA. APARTMENT. INVESTIGATORS SAY. THE BODY OF HIS. WIFE, 33-YEAR-OLD. SHAYLA CABRERA, WAS. LATER FOUND WRAPPED.

IN SIMILAR MATERIAL. >> IT'S SCARY, VERY. SPOOKY. >> Reporter: HER. PARENTS TELLING KNBC. THEY LAST SPOKE WITH. CABRERA AUGUST 9th. NIGHT WHEN SHE TOLD. THEM SHE WAS. PLANNING TO LEAVE. HER HUSBAND AND TAKE. THE THREE YOUNG. CHILDREN. THAT UNSETTLING. MOMENT, RECORDED AROUND 4:00. A.M. ACCORDING TO. NEIGHBORS. >> I NEVER HAD ANY. INTERACTION WITH THE. -- HUSBAND. HE ALWAYS SEEMED. LIKE -- MAD ALL THE. TIME. >> Reporter: A. SEARCH TEAM. DISCOVERING. CABRERA'S BODY OVER.

THE WEEKEND IN THE. ANGELES NATIONAL. FOREST. OFFICIALS SAY THEY. ARE NOW SEARCHING. FOR HER HUSBAND, 36-. YEAR-OLD JOSE MARK. CABRERA WHO FLED TO. PERU WITH THE. COUPLE'S THREE. CHILDREN, AGES 9, 6. AND 4. ACCORDING TO. KNBC, HE WAS BRIEFLY. DETAINED AND. QUESTIONED AT THE. AIRPORT, BUT. RELEASED BECAUSE AT. THE TIME HIS WIFE'S. BODY HADN'T BEEN. FOUND. THE KIDS ARE NOW. WITH THEIR. GRANDMOTHER AS. OFFICIALS WORK TO. DETERMINE THEIR. MOTHER'S CAUSE OF. DEATH. TONIGHT, A GROWING. MEMORIAL SITS. OUTSIDE THE FAMILY'S. APARTMENT NOT FAR. FROM WHERE THIS LOS. ANGELES MOTHER MAY. HAVE TAKEN HER LAST. BREATH.

DANA GRIFFIN, NBC. NEWS. >>> AND WE'RE BACK. IN A MOMENT WITH A. BIT OF BREAKING. NEWS. THE MAJOR UPDATE ON. THE PUSH IN TEXAS TO. REDRAW THE. CONGRESSIONAL MAP. AND POTENTIALLY. CHANGE THE BALANCE. >>> WE ARE BACK NOW. WITH A MAJOR UPDATE. ON THE BATTLE FOR. THE CONTROL OF. CONGRESS. THE TEXAS STATE. HOUSE JUST TOOK THE. FIRST STEP TOWARDS. APPROVING THAT. STATE'S. CONGRESSIONAL MAP TO. CREATE FIVE NEW. REPUBLICAN SEATS IN. CONGRESS AND. POTENTIALLY. CEMENTING THE GOP'S.

CONTROL OF THE. HOUSE. NOW IT HEADS TO THE. TEXAS SENATE AND IT. COMES AFTER WEEKS OF. FIGHTING BETWEEN. DEMOCRATS AND. REPUBLICANS IN THAT. STATE WITH DEMOCRATS. EVEN FLEEING FOR. DAYS TO DELAY THIS. VOTE. >>> WHEN WE COME. BACK, HE LAUGHED, HE. CRIED, HE DEDICATED. A PLAYGROUND. RO. >>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. AFTER WINNING THREE. SUPER BOWLS IN NINE. SEASONS WITH THE. PATRIOTS, ROB.

GRONKOWSKI IS A. BOSTON SPORTS. LEGEND. BUT GRONK'S LATEST. CONTRIBUTION TO THE. CITY MAY BE THE ONE. THAT MEANS THE MOST. TO HIM. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE. ANYTHING MORE BOSTON. THAN THIS. THAT'S PATRIOTS'. LEGEND ROB. GRONKOWSKI DOING. DOUGHNUTS IN A DUCK. BOAT ON THE CHARLES. RIVER. [ CHEERING AND. APPLAUSE ] A. FITTINGLY NEW. ENGLAND ARRIVAL TO. OFFICIALLY OPEN THE. CITY'S NEW FOOTBALL. THEMED GRONK. PLAYGROUND.

THE FORMER TIGHT END. SAID HE NEVER CRIED. AFTER A CHAMPIONSHIP. WIN. BUT THIS SPECIAL DAY. WAS DIFFERENT. JUST WATCH. >> I THOUGHT OF THE. IDEA TO -- GIVE BACK. TO BOSTON. EXCUSE ME, STILL. HAVE ME MOVED. OH. I THOUGHT I HAD THE. IDEA TO GIVE BACK TO. THE BOSTON AREA FOR. ALL THE LOVE AND. SUPPORT THIS CITY OF. NEW ENGLAND FANS. HAVE SHOWN ME. THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. AND IT WAS SINCE DAY. ONE. EVEN IF I WAS ACTING. LIKE AN IDIOT.

THEY LOVED IT. >> OF COURSE, NUMBER 87 HAD TO. TEST THE NEW SLIDE. GETTING A PUSH FROM. THE GOVERNOR, FOLLOWED BY A. SIGNATURE GRONK. SPIKE. GRONKOWSKI, WHO WON. THREE SUPER BOWLS. WITH THE PATS, WORKED WITH THE CITY. FOR FIVE YEARS TO. BUILD THE $2 MILLION. FULLY ACCESSIBLE. PLAYGROUND. >> WE'VE BEEN. WAITING FOR THIS. MOMENT FOR A WHILE. AND JUST TO SEE. THESE KIDS. LOOK AT IT RIGHT. THERE. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL.

ABOUT. >> THE NEW. PLAYGROUND IS. ALREADY GETTING RAVE. REVIEWS FROM THE. EXPERTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF. THE PLAYGROUND AND. MEETING GRONK? >> I LIKE IT. >> BUT IT SEEMS NO. ONE HAD MORE FUN. THAN THE BIGGEST KID. OF ALL. >> GRONK PLAYGROUND. IS OFFICIALLY OPEN. WOO. PATS' SPIKE. >> NO MATTER YOUR. TEAM, WE CAN ALL. CELEBRATE THAT. THAT'S "NBC NIGHTLY. NEWS" FOR THIS. WEDNESDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR. WATCHING. TONIGHT, AND ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. GOOD NIGHT.