NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Dec. 24

>>> BREAKING TONIGHT, THE STATE OF EMERGENCY. HERE IN CALIFORNIA AS. HEAVY RAINS BRING. CATASTROPHIC FLOODING. TO MILLIONS. TENS OF MILLIONS UNDER. FLOOD ALERTS ACROSS. THE WEST AS A POWERFUL. STORM TRIGGERS FLASH. FLOODS AND EVACUATIONS. HERE IN LOS ANGELES. HEAVY RAINS TURNING. HILLS INTO MUDSLIDES. LIFE-THREATENING FLOOD. WATERS WASHING OUT. HOMES AND FIRST. RESPONDERS RUSHING TO. SAVE PEOPLE TRAPPED. INSIDE THEIR CARS.

THIS NEW STORM SET TO. BRING HEAVY SNOW TO. THE EAST COAST RIGHT. AFTER CHRISTMAS. WE ARE TRACKING ALL OF. IT. >>> AND THE SEARCH FOR. ANSWERS AFTER A. TERRIFYING NURSING. HOME EXPLOSION IN. PENNSYLVANIA. RESCUERS PULLING. DOZENS TO SAFETY AND. DESPERATE FAMILY. MEMBERS FINALLY. REACHING THEIR LOVED. ONES. THE BIG QUESTION. TONIGHT, WHY DID IT. HAPPEN? >>> AND JUST IN. TONIGHT, THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT SAYING. THERE MAY BE A LOT. MORE EPSTEIN FILES. THAN PREVIOUSLY. THOUGHT. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF. DOCUMENTS AND IMAGES. ALREADY RELEASED. BUT TONIGHT THERE MAY. BE MORE THAN A MILLION. MORE ON THE WAY.

>>> THE LITTLE DRUMMER. BOYS AND GIRLS ARE. BACK FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. IN BETHLEHEM AFTER. YEARS OF BLOODSHED IN. NEARBY GAZA. THE MOVING MESSAGE. FROM THE FIRST. AMERICAN POPE AS HE. CELEBRATES HIS FIRST. CHRISTMAS EVE MASS. >>> THEN THEIR PARENTS. HAD TO PUSH TO GET. THESE BOYS THE SAME. LIFE-CHANGING GENE. THERAPY. BUT NOW THEY FINALLY. GOT IT, JUST IN TIME. FOR THE HOLIDAYS. >>> AND THERE IS GOOD. NEWS TONIGHT ABOUT THE. HEARTWARMING BOND. BETWEEN A BOY AND. MAN'S BEST FRIEND AND.

HOW THEY FOUND IT WHEN. THEY NEEDED IT THE. MOST. >> Announcer: THIS IS. NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS". WITH TOM LLAMAS. >>> GOOD EVENING FROM. ALONGSIDE A RAGING LOS. ANGELES RIVER. I'M GADI SCHWARTZ IN. FOR TOM. AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE. JUST BEHIND OUR. STUDIOS, AND THIS IS. WHAT THE L.A. RIVER. LOOKS LIKE IN THE. MIDDLE OF AN. ATMOSPHERIC RIVER. USUALLY IT'S JUST A. TRICKLE. BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IS. A TORRENT OF WATER. MEANWHILE, UP IN THE. HILLSIDES INCHES OF. RAIN HAVE TURNED INTO. MUDSLIDES, IMPACTING. SO MANY HOMES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW UNDER. EVACUATION ORDERS. MEANWHILE, RESCUE. CREWS HAVE BEEN. BRAVING THE ELEMENTS. TRYING TO GET TO. STRANDED DRIVERS. OUR DANA GRIFFIN. STARTSREAL, AND.

THE TIME TO ACT IS. NOW. >> Reporter: AND DANA, WE'VE SEEN THE. DESTRUCTION THIS. MASSIVE STORM CAN DO. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING. OUT THERE IN ALTADENA? >> SO GADI, WE HAVE. SEEN MUD TRICKLE DOWN.

THIS HILLSIDE. THAT'S WHY THESE. K-RAILS ARE IN PLACE, TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM. FLOWING OVER, POTENTIALLY MAKING. ROADS LIKE THIS. IMPASSABLE. GADI? >> DANA, THANK YOU SO. MUCH. BACK HERE IN THE. STUDIO WE'VE GOT. METEOROLOGIST RYAN. HANRAHAN OUT OF NBC. CONNECTICUT TRACKING. ALL OF IT. RYAN, WHAT IS IT. LOOKING LIKE IN THE. COMING HOURS HERE? >> THE HEAVIEST RAIN. IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT. EAST FROM LOS ANGELES, BUT THE DAMAGE HAS. ALREADY BEEN DONE. FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS. IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND 41 MILLION PEOPLE.

AT RISK FOR FLOODING. THROUGH THE WEEKEND. ACROSS CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE THIS STORM IS. NOT DONE YET. IN FACT, BY THIS. WEEKEND RAINFALL. TOTALS IN SOME SPOTS. UP TO ONE FOOT. THAT IS A TREMENDOUS. AMOUNT OF RAIN IN JUST. A COUPLE DAYS. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF. THE COUNTRY WE'VE GOT. A WINTER STORM. IT WON'T BE IN TIME. FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS, BUT BY FRIDAY. AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY. EVENING SNOW IN NEW. YORK CITY, SNOW AND. ICE DOWN TOWARD. PHILADELPHIA. LOOKS LIKE FOUR TO. EIGHT INCHES OF. ACCUMULATION IN AND. AROUND NEW YORK CITY. BACK INTO PORTIONS OF. PENNSYLVANIA. GADI? >> RYAN, THANK YOU. >>> AND THE. INVESTIGATION INTO. WHAT CAUSED A DEADLY.

EXPLOSION AT A. PENNSYLVANIA NURSING. HOME YESTERDAY IS JUST. GETTING UNDER WAY, AND. A COMMUNITY STILL. SHOCKED BY THAT FIERY. SCENE. SAM BROCK IS THERE FOR. US TONIGHT. >> Reporter: AFTER A. SHOCKING EXPLOSION AT. A NURSING HOME IN. EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THAT CLAIMED TWO. LIVES, HOSPITALIZED 20. AND SENT FIRST. RESPONDERS RACING TO. SAVE RESIDENTS, SOME. WITH DEMENTIA --. >> I'VE NEVER SEEN. SUCH HEROISM. >> Reporter: EMOTIONS. TODAY WERE RAW IN. BRISTOL TOWNSHIP. >> IT SCARES ME. BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY.

THAT HAVE HEALTH. ISSUES AND I CAN'T. EVEN WRAP MY HEAD. AROUND HOW THESE. FAMILIES FEEL WITH NO. ANSWERS. >> Reporter: POLICE. SAY EVERYONE IS NOW. ACCOUNTED FOR AND TWO. WOMEN KILLED, ONE. RESIDENT AND ONE. 52-YEAR-OLD EMPLOYEE. THE NTSB, WHICH. INVESTIGATES MAJOR. PIPELINE ACCIDENTS, SCOURED THE SCENE. TODAY ALONG WITH STATE. AND LOCAL AGENCIES, PROBING WHETHER THERE. MIGHT BE A CONNECTION. TO A GAS PIPELINE. >> UNTIL WE EXCAVATE. THAT AREA AND REMOVE. THE WALLS AND ROOFS.

THAT COLLAPSED WE. WON'T HAVE ANY IDEA. WHAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED. IN THERE. >> Reporter: UTILITY. COMPANY PECO SAID A. FEW HOURS AFTER THEIR. CREWS ARRIVED ON SCENE. BECAUSE OF REPORTS OF. A GAS ODOR THE. EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE COMPANY TELLING US. IT IS NOT KNOWN AT. THIS TIME IF PECO'S. EQUIPMENT OR NATURAL. GAS WAS INVOLVED IN. THIS INCIDENT. STATE RECORDS SHOW A. HOST OF HEALTH. VIOLATIONS AT THE. NURSING HOME AS. RECENTLY AS LATE. OCTOBER, FROM FAILURE. TO PROVIDE REQUIRED. SMOKE BARRIER. PARTITIONS TO FAILURE. TO MAINTAIN PORTABLE. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. >> TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WERE ANY OF THE. PREVIOUS CONCERNS THAT.

WERE RAISED. POTENTIALLY RELEVANT. IN WHAT HAPPENED IN. THIS TRAGEDY? >> I CAN'T COMMENT ON. THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN. ONGOING INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: PENNSYLVANIA'S. GOVERNOR SAYS. OWNERSHIP OF THE. NURSING HOME RECENTLY. CHANGED HANDS. >> THIS WAS A TRAGEDY. FOR OUR CAREGIVERS, FOR THE RESIDENTS THEY. SERVE. >> Reporter: SABER. HEALTHCARE DESCRIBES. ITS ROLE AS A. CONSULTANT. >> HOW MANY ISSUES DID. SABER INHERIT? >> WELL, WE'RE WORKING. TO NOT ONLY IMPROVE. AND FIX PRIOR ISSUES.

BUT TO UNCOVER THOSE. PRIOR ISSUES. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK. ON THOSE ISSUES IN THE. WAKE OF THIS EVENT. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT THE NTSB SAYS. IT WON'T BE ABLE TO. FULLY EVALUATE THAT. NATURAL GAS LINE UNTIL. A SAFE PATH IS. CLEARED. AND THAT, GADI, COULD. TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. >> SAM, THANK YOU. >>> AND A NEW TWIST IN. THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN. CASE. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. TONIGHT ANNOUNCING. THERE MAY BE 1 MILLION. MORE DOCUMENTS RELATED. TO THE CASE THAN IT. HAD PREVIOUSLY KNOWN. JULIE TSIRKIN JOINS. US. JULIE, WHERE DID THESE. RECORDS COME FROM?

>> Reporter: GREAT. QUESTION, GADI. TONIGHT THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT SAYS. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN. NEW YORK AND THE FBI. UNCOVERED POTENTIALLY. MORE THAN A MILLION. DOCUMENTS RELATED TO. THE EPSTEIN. INVESTIGATION. DOJ HAD ALREADY MISSED. A DECEMBER 19 DEADLINE. MANDATED BY LAW TO. RELEASE ALL. EPSTEIN-RELATED. MATERIAL AND NOW SAYS. IN A STATEMENT "DUE TO. THE MASS VOLUME OF. MATERIAL THIS PROCESS. MAY TAKE A FEW MORE. WEEKS.". CONGRESSIONAL. DEMOCRATS THREATENING. LEGAL ACTION IF THE. DEPARTMENT DOES NOT. COMPLY.

THE 30,000 DOCUMENTS, GADI, RELEASED SO FAR. INCLUDE NEW DETAILS OF. EPSTEIN'S CRIMES AS. WELL AS HIS PROXIMITY. TO WELL-KNOWN MEN. INCLUDING PRESIDENT. TRUMP, WHO HAS NEVER. BEEN ACCUSED OF. WRONGDOING RELATED TO. EPSTEIN. GADI? >> JULIE, THANK YOU. >>> ON THIS CHRISTMAS. EVE BETHLEHEM IS ONCE. AGAIN FILLED WITH. CELEBRATING PILGRIMS. AND TOURISTS. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT. SCENE THAN THE ONE. WE'VE SEEN OVER THE. LAST TWO YEARS IN THE. WAR-TORN REGION, AND. MATT BRADLEY IS THERE. >> Reporter: THE. LITTLE DRUMMER BOYS. AND GIRLS ARE BACK IN. BETHLEHEM, AND THIS.

CHRISTMAS THERE'S MORE. TO CELEBRATE. CHRISTMAS STARTED HERE. IN BETHLEHEM ABOUT. 2,000 YEARS AGO. AND NOW AFTER A. TWO-YEAR BREAK. CHRISTMAS IS MAKING A. COMEBACK RIGHT WHERE. IT WAS BORN. OUT OF RESPECT AND. REVERENCE FOR THE HUGE. LOSS OF LIFE IN THE. GAZA STRIP WHERE. DESPITE 11 WEEKS OF A. TENUOUS TRUCE SOME. FIGHTING CONTINUES AND. WINTER IS BEARING DOWN. ON NEARLY 2 MILLION. DISPLACED PEOPLE, MOST. LIVING IN TENTS. DESPITE THE CONTINUED. SUFFERING, GAZA IS. CELEBRATING AGAIN TOO. AT THE ENCLAVE'S ONLY. CATHOLIC CHURCH THIS. WEEK, A CHRISTMAS.

MASS. AND SOME RARE. SIGHTINGS OF JOY. IT'S WHY BETHLEHEM'S. MAYOR DECIDED TO BRING. BACK THE CITY'S. CHRISTMAS PARADE. >> WE NEED TO LIVE. WE NEED TO SEND A. MESSAGE OF LIFE. THE MESSAGE OF PEACE. FROM BETHLEHEM. >> Reporter: AND. BETHLEHEM NEEDS. TOURISTS. THE WAR AND COVID. BEFORE THAT SCARED. AWAY MILLIONS OF. VISITORS. THE CITY'S LIFEBLOOD. WHEN JERIS ATRASH. ISN'T PLAYING THE. BAGPIPES HE USED TO. MAKE A LIVING SELLING. SOUVENIRS. BUT HE LEFT THE. BUSINESS WHEN THE. TOURISTS STOPPED. COMING. >> IS THIS A MERRY. CHRISTMAS FOR THE.

PALESTINIANS HERE? >> CHRISTMAS IS BACK. WE ARE HAPPY FROM OUR. FACES. BUT IN OUR HEART WE. ARE NOT THAT MUCH. HAPPY. >> Reporter: BUT EVEN. IN THIS CHRISTMAS. DOESN'T FEEL QUITE THE. SAME, FOLKS HERE HOPE. IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO. THE WORLD. >> WE'RE BRINGING THE. SPIRIT BACK AND THE. CHRISTMAS VIBES BACK. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A. TWO YEARS WAR. >> Reporter: RETURNING. THE SPIRIT OF. CHRISTMAS TO WHERE IT. WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO. BE. MATT BRADLEY, NBC. NEWS, BETHLEHEM. >>> AND TONIGHT.

CHICAGO-BORN POPE LEO. XIV IS CELEBRATING HIS. FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE. MASS AS THE LEADER OF. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC. CHURCH. HERE'S NBC'S MOLLY. HUNTER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE FIRST AMERICAN. POPE SPEAKING IN. ITALIAN TO A CROWD OF. THOUSANDS IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA, EMPHASIZING A MESSAGE. OF HOPE AND HUMANITY. QUOTING HIS. PREDECESSOR, POPE. FRANCIS, "THIS TIME OF. YEAR REKINDLES IN US. THE GIFT AND TASK OF. BRINGING HOPE WHEREVER. HOPE HAS BEEN LOST.". HE DESCRIBED CHRISTMAS. AS A SEASON OF.

GRATITUDE AND MISSION. SAYING "GRATITUDE FOR. THE GIFT RECEIVED AND. MISSION TO BEAR. WITNESS TO IT BEFORE. THE WORLD.". IN HIS FIRST EIGHT. MONTHS THE PONTIFF HAS. BEEN BUSY, TRAVELING. TO TURKEY AND LEBANON, SPEAKING OUT ABOUT. U.S. IMMIGRATION. POLICY AND THE. SITUATION IN GAZA. AND IN RECENT WEEKS. SHARING A MESSAGE WITH. AMERICANS OF ALL. FAITHS. >> TO ENCOURAGE ALL. PEOPLE TO TRY AND. PROMOTE PEACE AND. HARMONY. >> Reporter: AT THE. VATICAN THIS MONTH. GETTING INTO THE. HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND. NATIVITY SCENE ALL LIT. UP IN ST. PETER'S. SQUARE AND LEO MEETING. WITH THE YOUNGEST OF. NATIVITY ACTORS. EVEN A HOLIDAY CONCERT. WITH MICHAEL BUBLE. ♪ IT'S BEGINNING TO. LOOK A LOT LIKE. CHRISTMAS ♪. >> MICHAEL BUBLE, YOUR. ITALIAN IS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT THE FAITHFUL. GATHERING TO CELEBRATE. THE MESSAGE OF HOPE AT. CHRISTMAS. AND TOMORROW POPE LEO. WILL BRING BACK THE. TRADITION OF. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS. DAY MASS INSIDE ST. PETER'S BASILICA. THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE.

SINCE THE 1990s. AND THEN HE WILL GO TO. THE BALCONY. OVERLOOKING ST. PETER'S SQUARE FOR HIS. URBI ET ORBI BLESSING. GADI? >> MOLLY HUNTER, THANK. YOU. IT'S LOOKING LIKE. SANTA CLAUS'S RALLY. CAME EARLY TO WALL. STREET TODAY. THE DOW CLOSING UP. BIG. THE S&P 500 HITTING AN. ALL-TIME HIGH. BUT THERE IS GROWING. WORRY FROM ECONOMISTS. ABOUT A SO-CALLED. K-SHAPED ECONOMY. SENIOR BUSINESS. CORRESPONDENT. CHRISTINE ROMANS. EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: WALL. STREET ALL SMILES THIS. CHRISTMAS EVE AS THE. STOCK MARKET SOARED TO. NEW HEIGHTS. THE S&P 500 HITTING A. RECORD AND ADDING TO. THE DATA PAINTING A. PICTURE OF A STRONG. U.S. ECONOMY. GDP GROWING AT 4.3% IN. THE THIRD QUARTER. INFLATION COMING DOWN. AND UNEMPLOYMENT. REMAINING AT. RELATIVELY LOW LEVELS. AND YET --. >> WHY DO YOU SHOP. HERE? >> IT'S THE BEST. STORE. LIKE THE PRICES, YOU. CAN'T BEAT THEM. >> Reporter: AT. DISCOUNT GROCER ALDI. SHOPPERS HUNTING FOR. BARGAINS.

>> WE'RE JUST BUYING. WHAT WE NEED RIGHT. NOW. >> THERE USED TO BE AT. LEAST DATE NIGHT HERE. AND THERE BUT THAT'S. SOMETHING WE'RE NOW. SACRIFICING BECAUSE. EVERYTHING IS JUST TOO. EXPENSIVE. >> Reporter: THEIR. EXPERIENCE PART OF. WHAT ECONOMISTS CALL. THE K-SHAPED ECONOMY. >> THE K-SHAPED. ECONOMY MEANS THAT. SOME AMERICANS, USUALLY THE WEALTHIEST. AMERICANS, ARE DOING. JUST FINE. THEY'RE IN THE TOP OF. THE K. THEIR INCOMES ARE. RISING. THEIR SPENDING IS. RISING. >> Reporter: BUT THOSE. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE K. FEEL LIKE THEIR. PAYCHECKS CAN'T KEEP. UP WITH RISING COSTS. FOR FOOD, HOUSING, ELECTRICITY AND. CHILDCARE.

>> THEY FEEL LIKE. THEY'RE FALLING BEHIND. OR IF ON A GOOD DAY. MAYBE TREADING WATER. >> Reporter: INCREASINGLY THE TOP. 10% OF EARNERS ARE. DRIVING THE ECONOMY. ONE ANALYSIS FINDING. THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE. FOR NEARLY HALF OF. CONSUMER SPENDING, A. RECORD LEVEL. A TREND NOT LOST ON. FED CHAIR JAY POWELL. >> IT'S A GOOD. QUESTION, HOW. SUSTAINABLE THAT IS. >> Reporter: AN. ECONOMY GROWING BUT. INCREASINGLY BY THOSE. WHO CAN MOST AFFORD. IT. CHRISTINE ROMANS, NBC. NEWS, TOTOWA, NEW. JERSEY. >>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT. BACK WITH OUR SERIES. "THE COST OF DENIAL.".

AN INCREDIBLE UPDATE. FOR THE FAMILY. FIGHTING TO GET TWO. BROTHERS THE SAME. PO. >>> WELCOME BACK. IN OUR SERIES "THE. COST OF DENIAL," WE'VE. INTRODUCED YOU TO TWO. BROTHERS, HUNTER AND. NOAH, BOTH WITH A RARE. DISEASE -- YOU. DUCHENNE MUSCULAR. DYSTROPHY. AND THEIR PARENTS HAD. TO PUSH TO GET THE. BOYS THE SAME. POTENTIALLY. LIFE-CHANGING GENE.

THERAPY. AND MAGGIE VESPA NOW. HAS THIS UPDATE ON HOW. THEY'RE DOING. >> Reporter: THESE. PHOTOS SHOW INCREDIBLE. MOMENTS MONTHS IN THE. MAKING FOR 11-YEAR-OLD. HUNTER SMALL, ALL. SMILES AND FINALLY. GETTING THE MEDICINE. HIS CHICAGO-AREA. FAMILY FOUGHT FOR FOR. SO LONG. >> WHAT GRADE ARE YOU. IN? >> FIFTH. >> FIFTH GRADE? >> Reporter: THE SLEW. OF FOLLOW-UP. APPOINTMENTS AND WEEKS. OF OBSERVATION AT. ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S. HOSPITAL ALL THE SAME. TREATMENT THAT YOUNGER. BROTHER NOAH RECEIVED. BACK IN MARCH, HELPING. HIM BATTLE THE SAME. DEVASTATING DISEASE. THAT BOTH BROTHERS. SHARE. >> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE.

FOR YOU AS A MOM, TO. SEE HUNTER FINALLY GET. THE TREATMENT? >> IT WAS SUCH AN. AMAZING MOMENT, BUT. ALSO IT'S VERY. NERVE-RACKING BECAUSE. DURING THE INFUSION. THERE CAN BE THINGS. THAT HAPPEN. WE WERE SO EXCITED AND. SO GRATEFUL TO FINALLY. BE THERE AND BE HAVING. IT DONE. >> Reporter: HUNTER. AND NOAH WERE BOTH. BORN WITH DUCHENNE. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, OR. DMD, A RARE GENETIC. DISORDER THAT. PROGRESSIVELY ATTACKS. A PERSON'S MUSCLES.

EXPERTS SAY MOST. PATIENTS ARE IN A. WHEELCHAIR AROUND 12. AND DON'T LIVE TO SEE. 30. >> HOW DOES IT MAKE. YOU FEEL? >> TIRED A LOT. >> IT MAKES YOU FEEL. TIRED A LOT? >> GO. >> Reporter: "NIGHTLY. NEWS" FIRST MET THE. SMALL FAMILY INCLUDING. OLDEST SON CARTER BACK. IN AUGUST. PARENTS WILLIAM AND. ALISON WERE FURIOUS. HUNTER'S COVERAGE FOR. ELEVIDYS THAT SAME. $3.2 MILLION ONE-TIME. DOSE GENE THERAPY HAD. BEEN DENIED BY THEIR. INSURER TWICE. THIS AFTER THE INSURER. APPROVED NOAH FOR THE. EXACT SAME TREATMENT. >> YOUR INSURANCE. COMPANY IS DENYING ONE. SON.

>> CORRECT. >> THE SAME TREATMENT. YOUR OTHER SON HAS. RECEIVED AND SEEMS TO. BE THRIVING AFTER. RECEIVING. >> CORRECT. YES. >> Reporter: AFTER OUR. FIRST STORY AIRED THE. SMALL FAMILY SAW A. GROUNDSWELL OF. SUPPORT. AT SACRED HEART SCHOOL. WHERE THE BOYS' LEGS. TIRE EASILY, PROMPTING. THEM TO USE ELEVATORS. AND SCOOTERS, THEIR. CLASSMATES LAUNCHED A. LETTER-WRITING. CAMPAIGN. PERHAPS THE STRONGEST. CASE MADE BY NOAH. HIMSELF IN A LETTER TO. THEIR INSURANCE. COMPANY. >> I'M WRITING TO ASK. YOU TO ACCEPT MY. BROTHER HUNTER FOR.

GENE THERAPY. I RECEIVED GENE. THERAPY IN MARCH. NOW I'M ABLE TO SWIM. AND LEARN HOW TO RIDE. MY BIKE. >> Reporter: SOON. AFTER, A CRUCIAL PIVOT. ANNOUNCED AT SCHOOL BY. THE BOYS' PRINCIPAL. >> WE'RE HAPPY TO. ANNOUNCE THAT HUNTER. DID GET APPROVED. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> Reporter: FAST. FORWARD TO NOW HUNTER. RECEIVED HIS ONE-TIME. DOSE OF ELEVIDYS IN. LATE OCTOBER FOLLOWED. BY A PERIOD OF. OBSERVATION IN. ARKANSAS.

>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING. FINALLY GETTING THAT. TREATMENT? >> I WAS FEELING GOOD. BECAUSE I HAD TO WAIT. FOR A LONG TIME TO GET. IT. >> Reporter: NOAH, HOW. DID THAT FEEL, KNOWING. THAT YOUR LETTER. PROBABLY HELPED MAKE. THAT HAPPEN? >> I FELT REALLY. HAPPY. >> Reporter: YOU FELT. REALLY HAPPY? DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU. MADE A DIFFERENCE? >> YEAH. >> Reporter: IN. ARKANSAS WITH DAD. WILLIAM HUNTER'S KEPT. UP WITH SCHOOL ONLINE. THE BOYS' CLASSMATES. SENDING LETTERS OF. SUPPORT. >> THEY ARE BOTH. SIGNED UP WHEN. HUNTER'S BACK TO BE. PLAYING ON A FLAG.

FOOTBALL TEAM. JUST BEING WITH YOUR. FAMILY, THAT IS WHAT. THE HOLIDAYS ARE. ABOUT. YOU REALLY REALIZE IT. WHEN YOU'RE JUST SO. FAR APART. >> Reporter: THE. FAMILY GRATEFUL FOR. THIS INCREDIBLE GIFT. OF TWO BROTHERS GIVEN. THE SAME FIGHTING. CHANCE. MAGGIE VESPA, NBC. NEWS, CHICAGO. >> AND WE ARE HAPPY TO. REPORT AFTER. COMPLETING HIS. OBSERVATION PERIOD IN. ARKANSAS HUNTER IS NOW. BACK HOME WITH FAMILY. TOGETHER AGAIN JUST IN. TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. >>> AND WE'RE BACK IN. A MOMENT WITH THE. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF.

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS AT. PARIS'S NOTRE DAME. CATHEDRAL. >>> BACK NOW WITH NEW. CHARGES FILED AGAINST. THE MAN ACCUSED OF. SHOOTING TWO NATIONAL. GUARD SOLDIERS IN. WASHINGTON, D.C. RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL. FACES FEDERAL GUN. CHARGES IN CONNECTION. WITH LAST MONTH'S. ATTACK THAT KILLED A. NUMBER -- A MEMBER OF. THE WEST VIRGINIA. NATIONAL GUARD AND. SERIOUSLY INJURED. ANOTHER. THE DOJ IS NOW. CONSIDERING WHETHER. THEY SHOULD PURSUE THE. DEATH PENALTY. HE'S ALREADY CHARGED.

WITH FIRST-DEGREE. MURDER. >>> AND OVERSEAS. TONIGHT THE NOTRE DAME. CATHEDRAL IN PARIS. CELEBRATING ITS. CHRISTMAS EVE MASS. IT IS THE SECOND TIME. NOTRE DAME HELD ITS. CHRISTMAS MASS SINCE. IT REOPENED LAST YEAR. AFTER THAT MASSIVE. FIRE RIPPED THROUGH IT. BACK IN 2019. >>> AND CHECK THIS. OUT. HUNDREDS OF. SURF-LOVING SANTAS. TRADED IN THEIR. SLEIGHS FOR BOARDS IN. COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA. THAT WAS TODAY, THE. ANNUAL SURFING SANTAS. EVENT BRINGS THOUSANDS. OF VISITORS DRESSED AS. EVERYTHING FROM SANTA. TO ELVES TO SNOWMEN. AND WOMEN. IT IS ALL TO RAISE.

MONEY FOR LOCAL. CHARITIES. >>> AND WHEN WE COME. BACK, YOU NEVER KNOW. WHO'S GOING THROUGH. THE SAME THING YOU. ARE. THE BOY AND HIS. UNEXPECTED COMPANION. WHO WALKED THROUGH. >>> AND FINALLY. TONIGHT, THE SPECIAL. BOND BETWEEN A TEENAGE. BOY AND HIS BEST. FRIEND, A 10-YEAR-OLD. THERAPY DOG, WHO FOUND. EACH OTHER AT JUST THE. RIGHT TIME. STEVE PATTERSON HAS. OUR STORY. >> Reporter: TRUMAN.

CAUDILL WAS AN. OUTGOING AND HAPPY. TEENAGE BOY UNTIL. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN HE STARTED. FEELING WEAK. >> OUR DOCTOR CALLED. THAT HAD ORDERED THE. BLOODWORK, AND HE SAID. YOU NEED TO GO TO THE. EMERGENCY ROOM RIGHT. NOW. >> Reporter: THE. DIAGNOSIS IMMEDIATE. ACUTE MYELOID. LEUKEMIA. CANCER. 13-YEAR-OLD TRUMAN WAS. ADMITTED TO CHILDREN'S. HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES. THAT EVENING. >> IT WAS KIND OF. ROUGH JUST BEING. SOMEWHERE SO. DIFFERENT. >> Reporter: THEN THE. VERY NEXT DAY WALKED. IN 10-YEAR-OLD HOGAN, A CUDDLY VETERAN.

THERAPY DOG. >> HOGAN JUMPED ON. TRUMAN'S BED, LAID. DOWN AND STARTED TO. SNORE. AND IT WAS JUST LIKE. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. FOR THAT MOMENT. >> Reporter: FOR THE. NEXT FIVE MONTHS. TRUMAN WOULD RECEIVE. INTENSE CHEMOTHERAPY. TREATMENTS, BRINGING. SEVERE BOUTS OF. SICKNESS AND BOREDOM. BUT IN A CRUEL. COINCIDENCE TRUMAN AND. HOGAN DIDN'T JUST. SHARE ADORATION. THEY SHARED A. DIAGNOSIS. HOGAN WAS BATTLING. CANCER TOO. THE PAIR INSEPARABLE.

WHILE THEY BOTH. UNDERWENT TREATMENT. >> IT KIND OF. CONNECTED US MORE. BECAUSE HE WAS GOING. THROUGH A SIMILAR. THING. >> Reporter: AND AT. THE END OF THOSE FIVE. MONTHS --. >> SO DO YOU THINK IN. SOME STRANGE WAY YOU. LIKE HELPED HEAL EACH. OTHER? >> YEAH, I DO. >> TRUMAN! TRUMAN! >> Reporter: BOTH NOW. IN REMISSION. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE. ]. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT. CAN BE EXPLAINED. I THINK THEY JUST. NEEDED EACH OTHER AT. THE RIGHT MOMENT, AND. I THINK WHEN THEY GOT. TOGETHER THEY JUST. CURED EACH OTHER. >> Reporter: BOY AND. BEST FRIEND BEATING.

CANCER TOGETHER. >> THE MIRACLE OF. LOVE. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS.". THANKS SO MUCH FOR. WATCHING. I'M GADI SCHWARTZ. AND FROM ALL OF US. HERE AT NBC NEWS, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND. HAVE A WONDERFUL. NIGHT.