1 00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:15,515 >>> TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES" PRESENTS, STORIES THAT INSPIRE. >> HOW DO YOU DEFINE HERO? >> WE DEFINE IT, AT LEAST IN 2 00:00:15,582 --> 00:00:22,422 TERMS OF OUR REQUIREMENT, IS A MAN OR WOMAN THAT WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY RISKS THEIR LIFE TO AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE TO SAVE OR 3 00:00:22,489 --> 00:00:29,529 ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. >> THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CARNEGIE HERO MEDAL, ALONG 4 00:00:29,596 --> 00:00:39,706 WITH A $5500 PRIZE. WE WONDERED WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE HEROIC, SO WE WENT TO GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO SEE THE 5 00:00:39,773 --> 00:00:48,715 NEUROSCIENCE FOR OURSELVES. ♪ ♪ >>> SHE IS A RUSSIAN BALLERINA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING 6 00:00:48,782 --> 00:00:59,492 DANCERS. BUT DAYS AFTER RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, SHE PIROUETTED AND STEPPED OFF THE STAGE WITH 7 00:00:59,559 --> 00:01:08,768 DRAMATIC FLOURISH. >> I WAS SO ASHAMED OF RUSSIA. I'M NOT ASHAMED THAT I'M RUSSIAN, BUT I AM ASHAMED 8 00:01:08,835 --> 00:01:18,344 BECAUSE OF RUSSIA STARTED THIS ACTION. >>> THREE, TWO, ONE -- >> JACOB SMITH DROPS INTO THE 9 00:01:18,411 --> 00:01:28,655 BIG COOL R, A NARROW ROCK WALLED 1400 FOOT CHUTE. THAT DOT IS HIM, MAKING HIS WAY TURN BY TURN. 10 00:01:28,721 --> 00:01:35,094 A WRONG MOVE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THE RUN HAS A 50 DEGREE SLOPE, WHICH MEAN IT IS YOU SLIP DOWN, 11 00:01:35,161 --> 00:01:42,402 THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE THAT YOU CAN STOP YOURSELF. WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SEE THIS, BECAUSE HE CANNOT. 12 00:01:42,469 --> 00:01:56,416 JACOB IS >>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO "60 MINUTES" PRESENTS. 13 00:01:56,483 --> 00:02:03,456 TONIGHT, STORIES THAT INSPIRE. WE'LL MEET UKRAINIAN DANCERS PURSUING THEIR ART WHILE IN EXILE, AND A TEENAGE SKIER WHO 14 00:02:03,523 --> 00:02:08,795 FLIES DOWNHILL WITHOUT THE AID OF EYESIGHT. BUT WE BEGIN WITH A TALE OF CERTIFIED HEROES. 15 00:02:08,862 --> 00:02:17,437 IN 1904, 180 AMERICANS WERE TRAPPED BY FIRE IN A PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINE. TWO HEROES WENT IN TO SAVE THEM, 16 00:02:17,504 --> 00:02:27,046 BUT THE RESCUERS AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE MINERS PERISHED. STILL, THAT OCTOBER OF HEROISM TOUCHED ONE OF THE MAN'S RICHEST 17 00:02:27,113 --> 00:02:31,818 AMERICANS. ANDREW CARNEGIE DONATED MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN TODAY'S MONEY TO RECOGNIZE HEROS IN THE 18 00:02:31,885 --> 00:02:39,959 U.S. AND CANADA. AS SCOTT PELLEY FIRST REPORTED IN 2021, A GOOD DEAL HAS CHANGED IN 118 YEARS. 19 00:02:40,026 --> 00:02:49,769 THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CARNEGIE HERO MEDAL. ADVANCES IN NEUROSCIENCE ARE REVEALING WHY SOME OF US MAY BE 20 00:02:49,836 --> 00:02:57,043 HEROIC. WE'LL GET TO THE SCIENCE, BUT FIRST, MEET SOME OF THE CARNEGIE HEROES, INCLUDING KERRY ANN 21 00:02:57,110 --> 00:03:03,683 THOMAS. >> I REMEMBER THINKING ALMOST INSTANTLY, I'M NOT GOING TO LET SOMEBODY DIE. 22 00:03:03,750 --> 00:03:14,027 >> Reporter: SHE WAS A CIVILIAN, OVERSEEING CONFISCATED PROPERTY AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE TOPEKA POLICE DEPARTMENT. 23 00:03:14,093 --> 00:03:21,834 IN 2018, A MAN CAME IN DEMANDING HIS BICYCLE. THOMAS TURNED TO FIND IT. >> AS SOON AS I TURNED AROUND 24 00:03:21,901 --> 00:03:27,307 AND STARTED TO WALK OFF, I HEARD A SCREAM. >> Reporter: THE SCREAM CAME FROM OFFICER TAMMY WALTER. 25 00:03:27,373 --> 00:03:35,848 FOR REASONS WE DON'T KNOW, SHE HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY THE MAN IN THE PROPERTY ROOM WAITING AREA. THOMAS HIT A PANIC ALARM AND 26 00:03:35,915 --> 00:03:43,523 CHARGED OUT OF HER LOCKED ROOM. >> SO AS I RAN OUT THERE, I SAW THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE WALL, AND SHE WAS DOWN. 27 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:53,333 AND SHE WAS NOT MOVING. AND I WENT OF THERE AND I PULLED HIM OFF OF HER. HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE PUNCHED 28 00:03:53,399 --> 00:04:01,107 ME IN THE FACE. HE TURNED AROUND AND HE STARTED BACK ON HER. HE'S KICKING HER WHILE SHE'S ON 29 00:04:01,174 --> 00:04:09,582 THE GROUND, AND CONSTANTLY PUNCHING HER. SO I WENT AND GRABBED HIM AGAIN. AND I PULLED HIM OFF. 30 00:04:09,649 --> 00:04:17,223 >> Reporter: HELP WALLS SLOW IN COMING. IT SEEMS AS NO ONE HAD TRIGGERED THE PANIC ALARM BEFORE, SO THE 31 00:04:17,290 --> 00:04:22,228 COPS UPSTAIRS WEREN'T SURE WHAT IT MEANT. >> HE GRABBED SOMETHING OFF OF HER GUN BELT. 32 00:04:22,295 --> 00:04:30,637 I THOUGHT, OKAY, HE HAS HER GUN. THIS WHOLE THING HAS JUST CHANGED. HE HIT THE ELEVATOR BUTTON, AND 33 00:04:30,703 --> 00:04:36,643 HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME. >> Reporter: LATER, IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE OFFICER'S RADIO 34 00:04:36,709 --> 00:04:43,349 THE MAN HAD, NOT HER GUN. BUT THOMAS DIDN'T KNOW THAT IN THE FIGHT. WHAT HAPPENED THEN? 35 00:04:43,416 --> 00:04:53,393 >> AND SO I PUT MY FOOT IN THE DOOR, IT OPENED UP, AND WITH EVERYTHING I HAD, I GRABBED HIM AND I PULLED HIM OUT OF THE 36 00:04:53,459 --> 00:05:05,238 ELEVATOR. AND JUST AS SOON AS WE GOT OUT, I RAN TO THE DOOR, I OPENED IT, AND I JUST STARTED SCREAMING. 37 00:05:05,304 --> 00:05:12,445 AND THAT'S WHEN ALL THE OFFICERS CAME IN AND TOOK HIM DOWN. >> Reporter: A TOPEKA COP REPORTED THAT STORY TO THE 38 00:05:12,512 --> 00:05:21,487 PITTSBURGH HEADQUARTERS OF THE CARNEGIE HERO FUND COMMISSION. ERIC ZARIN IS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION, A FORMER SECRET 39 00:05:21,554 --> 00:05:28,094 SERVICE AGENT. >> WE LOOK AT UP TO 1,000 CASES A YEAR. WE AWARD JUST A LITTLE OVER 10% 40 00:05:28,161 --> 00:05:33,733 OF THAT. SO IN RECENT YEARS, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 80 CASES A YEAR. >> HOW DO YOU DEFINE HERO? 41 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:43,443 >> WE DEFINE IT, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF OUR MEDAL REWARDING REQUIREMENT, IS A MAN OR WOMAN THAT WILLINGLY RISKS THEIR LIVE 42 00:05:43,509 --> 00:05:51,984 TO SAVE OR ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOUR INVESTIGATORS GO THROUGH? 43 00:05:52,051 --> 00:05:58,758 >> WE WRITE OR CONTACT POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE VICTIM IN THE CASE, WHO WAS THE RESCUE PARTY AND OTHER 44 00:05:58,825 --> 00:06:08,401 EYEWITNESSS TO THE ACT. WE START TO BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING OF EACH CASE. >> AND THIS IS THE MIDEDAL. 45 00:06:08,468 --> 00:06:14,006 >> Reporter: THE MEDAL COMES WITH $5500 AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT. >> WE ALSO PAY FOR FUNERAL COSTS 46 00:06:14,073 --> 00:06:20,413 FOR A HERO THAT'S KILLED IN THE ACT. WE PAY MEDICAL COSTS FOR ANY INJURY THAT THEY INCUR, TO 47 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:27,787 INCLUDE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTER EFFECTS, PTSD. WE DON'T PRESENT A MEDAL AND WALK AWAY, WE STAY THERE, AND WE 48 00:06:27,854 --> 00:06:33,526 STAY THERE FOR THE HERO'S LIFETIME. SOMETIMES FAR BEYOND. WE WERE RECENTLY LOOKING AT A 49 00:06:33,593 --> 00:06:42,502 CASE THAT A GENTLEMAN WAS KILLED IN HIS HEROIC ACT AND WE SUPPORTED HIS WIFE AND HIS DAUGHTER FOR 72 YEARS UNTIL HIS 50 00:06:42,568 --> 00:06:50,743 DAUGHTER DIED. >> ON THE BEACH THAT DAY I JUST REACTED. >> Reporter: FEET WAS ON A NORTH 51 00:06:50,810 --> 00:06:59,952 CAROLINA BEACH IN 2015 WHEN SOMEONE POINTED TO A BOY SWEPT AWAY BY A RIP CURRENT. PONCER AND ANOTHER MAN SWAM 52 00:07:00,019 --> 00:07:06,959 ABOUT 150 YARDS. >> WE FOUND THE YOUNG TEENAGER, 13-YEAR-OLD BOY, AND WATER WAS STARTING TO WASH OVER HIS FACE. 53 00:07:07,026 --> 00:07:14,901 >> Reporter: THIS IS THE BOY AFTER THEY SWAM HIM BACK TO SHORE. >> AS WE GET TO THE BEACH, A 54 00:07:14,967 --> 00:07:20,473 CHURCH YOUTH GROUP LEADER COMES OUT AND MEETS WITH US, AND HE SAYS, THANK YOU. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE. 55 00:07:20,540 --> 00:07:30,049 >> Reporter: A SECOND BOY WAS DROWNING. PONCER RAN, BROKE HIS FOOT, IGNORED IT, AND SWAM OUT. 56 00:07:30,116 --> 00:07:37,824 HE EVENTUALLY LOST SIGHT OF THE BOY, BUT THE CHILD WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER BY OTHERS AND FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL. 57 00:07:37,890 --> 00:07:45,031 SO WHY YOU? >> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE, IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON A HOT STOVE AND 58 00:07:45,097 --> 00:07:51,370 PULL IT BACK RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT THINKING, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME. IT JUST NEEDED TO BE DONE AND I 59 00:07:51,437 --> 00:07:59,111 DID IT. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE SAME REACTION FOR DAVID McCARTNEY, WHEN FATE ARRIVED ON A TWO-LANE 60 00:07:59,178 --> 00:08:05,918 ROAD IN INDIANA. >> I WAS HEADING SOUTH, AND THERE WAS A VEHICLE THAT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING A LITTLE BIT 61 00:08:05,985 --> 00:08:13,693 LEFT, A LITTLE BIT RIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT RIGHT AND HIT A CULVERT. >> WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? 62 00:08:13,759 --> 00:08:21,400 >> YOU COULD SEE THE SMOKE AND THEY STARTED TO SCREAM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO CATCH ON FIRE. 63 00:08:21,467 --> 00:08:28,474 >> Reporter: ELIZABETH TESTERMAN WAS TRAPPED. >> SHE'S IN THERE SCREAMING, THE DASH IS ON FIRE, THE SMOKE IS 64 00:08:28,541 --> 00:08:33,746 GOING THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NOW. >> Reporter: HE AND ANOTHER MAN 65 00:08:33,813 --> 00:08:41,220 KICKED IN HER WINDSHIELD AND CUT HER SEAT BELT WITH A KNIFE. >> WE PULL HER FEET OUT AND WIGGLE UP THROUGH THAT 66 00:08:41,287 --> 00:08:47,660 WINDSHIELD THAT WAS KICKED OUT. AND THEN WE PULLED HER OVER TO THE GRASS AND LAID HER DOWN. >> Reporter: A MINUTE LATER, HE 67 00:08:47,727 --> 00:08:58,638 TOLD US THE CAR EXPLODED. THAT FEAR OF DYING IN A CAR IS WELL KNOWN TO ABIGAIL MARSH. SHE'S NOT A HERO, BUT SHE WAS 68 00:08:58,704 --> 00:09:05,444 SAVED BY ONE. AT AGE 19, SHE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AND SWERVSWERVEL 69 00:09:05,511 --> 00:09:15,321 ED -- SWERVED TO MISS A DOG. SHE WENT INTO A SPIN. >> AND I SPENT SOME AMOUNT OF 70 00:09:15,388 --> 00:09:25,464 TIME, 100% CERTAIN I WAS ABOUT TO DIE. I WAS, YOU KNOW, ANY ONE OF THESE CARS HADN'T SWERVED IN 71 00:09:25,531 --> 00:09:33,139 TIME AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. >> WHAT HAPPENED? >> I HEAR A RAP ON THE WINDOW AND I SEE A MAN'S FACE STAIRING 72 00:09:33,205 --> 00:09:44,817 IN THE CAR AND SAID YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD USE SOME HELP. >> Reporter: HIS ACT OF HEROISM LED HER TO BECOME DR. AT-BIGAIL 73 00:09:44,884 --> 00:09:51,924 MARSH, A NEUROSCIENCE THAT STUDIES WHAT GETS INTO THE HEADS OF HEROES. AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, SHE'S 74 00:09:51,991 --> 00:10:00,132 PUBLISHED STUDIES ON THE BRAINS OF TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE -- PSYCHOPATHS WHO HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND PEOPLE 75 00:10:00,199 --> 00:10:08,507 WHO HAVE SO MUCH COMPASSION THAT THEY DONATED A KIDNEY TO A STRANGER. SHE FOUND A DIFFERENCE IN THE 76 00:10:08,574 --> 00:10:16,549 STRUCTURE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAIN. THEY SUBCONSCIOUSLY RECOGNIZE DANGER AND REACT FASTER THAN 77 00:10:16,615 --> 00:10:21,887 CONSCIOUS THOUGHT. >> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE KNOW THEY DO IS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING THE 78 00:10:21,954 --> 00:10:28,627 EXPERIENCE OF FEAR. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS NOT ONLY IS IT ESSENTIAL FORGIVING YOU THE EXPERIENCE OF 79 00:10:28,694 --> 00:10:35,368 FEAR, IT SEEMS TO ALLOW YOU TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S FEAR. >> Reporter: AS HER SUBJECTS 80 00:10:35,434 --> 00:10:45,611 WERE SCANNED, MARSH SHOWED THEM EMOTIONAL FACES. >> PEOPLE THAT WERE PSYCHOPATHIC, THEY SHOWED LITTLE 81 00:10:45,678 --> 00:10:51,784 RESPONSE. OTHERS HAD AN EXAGGERATED RESPONSE, WHICH WE THINK MEANS THAT THEY ARE MORE SENSITIVE 82 00:10:51,851 --> 00:11:00,993 THAN MOST PEOPLE TO OTHER'S DISTRESS, BETTER AT INTERPRETING OTHER PEOPLE'S STRESS. >> Reporter: PERHAPS LIKE THE 83 00:11:01,060 --> 00:11:07,099 MAN WHO SAVED HER ON THE FREEWAY. NO TELLING HOW MANY PSYCHOPATHS DROVE PAST YOU. 84 00:11:07,166 --> 00:11:14,940 >> JUST RELAX AND STAY AS STALE AS POSSIBLE. >> Reporter: WE WONDERED WHETHER OUR CARNEGIE HEROES WERE BORN 85 00:11:15,007 --> 00:11:22,782 HEROIC. WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR BRAINS? ALL THREE VOLUNTEERED FOR DR. 86 00:11:22,848 --> 00:11:31,957 MARSHA'S SCANS. >> TO MY -- I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, I WAS VERY PLEASED AND GRATIFIED BY WHAT WE FOUND IN 87 00:11:32,024 --> 00:11:41,801 THE HEROIC RESCUERS. JUST LIKE THE KIDNEY DONORS, IT WAS LARGER THAN AVERAGE AND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESPONSIVE TO 88 00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:45,938 THE SIGHT OF SOMEBODY ELSE IN DISTRESS DISTRESS, WHICH MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. 89 00:11:46,005 --> 00:11:54,513 THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO, WHEN THEY SAW US, THEY WERE TERRIFIED AND THEY DIDN'T JUST SIT THERE. >> THEY HAVE ALL TOLD US THAT 90 00:11:54,580 --> 00:12:00,719 THEY SPRANG INTO ACTION, AS YOU SAY, WITHOUT THINKING. >> YOU DON'T THINK, YOU'RE STRICTLY ACTING. 91 00:12:00,786 --> 00:12:08,461 >> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. >> I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. >> IT REALLY MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW ANCIENT AND 92 00:12:08,527 --> 00:12:21,073 DEEP IN OUR BRAIN STRUCTURES LIKE THIS ARE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY IT'S WHERE ALTRUISM IS, IN THE BRAIN. 93 00:12:21,140 --> 00:12:29,915 BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY IN THE CENTRAL LINK IN THAT CHAIN, WHETHER YOU'RE A MOUSE, A RAT, DOG OR HUMAN, IT'S 94 00:12:29,982 --> 00:12:37,623 PERFORMING THE SAME FUNCTIONS IN A REALLY DEEP, FAST, SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL. >> Reporter: IF THE ACT OF 95 00:12:37,690 --> 00:12:42,495 HEROISM IS A SPRINT, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE A MARATHON. FOR DAVID McCARTNEY, IT WAS FOR THE BETTER. 96 00:12:42,561 --> 00:12:48,167 HE'S THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE WASN'T A GOOD MAN. IN THE PAST, HE HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO BATTERY. 97 00:12:48,234 --> 00:12:57,676 BUT HE PROMISED THE PROM HE PULLED FROM THE BURNING CAR THAT HE WOULD DO GOOD, AND IN 2019, HE DONATED A KIDNEY. 98 00:12:57,743 --> 00:13:05,317 >> WHO DID THE KIDNEY GO TO? >> NO CLUE. >> Reporter: ON THE OTHER HAND, FOR TERRY ANN THOMAS, HEROISM 99 00:13:05,384 --> 00:13:09,054 HAS BEEN TROUBLING. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK IN THE POLICE PROPERTY ROOM. 100 00:13:09,121 --> 00:13:16,595 >> I HAD A HARD TIME. I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME. >> Reporter: AND IT'S BEEN A HARD TIME FOR PETE PONCER, WHO 101 00:13:16,662 --> 00:13:24,603 WAS LEFT WITH REGRET. THAT SECOND BOY HE COULD NOT REACH WAS FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL, BUT DID NOT SURVIVE. 102 00:13:24,670 --> 00:13:32,111 >> A HERO WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE SECOND ONE, AS WELL. AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT I ALWAYS LIVE WITH. 103 00:13:32,178 --> 00:13:39,285 I JUST COULDN'T GET THE SECOND KID. >> Reporter: HIS REGRET WAS COUPLED WITH CURIOSITY ABOUT THE 104 00:13:39,351 --> 00:13:47,193 BOY HE SAVED SEVEN YEARS AGO. THE BOY WHOSE NAME HE NEVER KNEW. THE YOUNG MAN THAT YOU SAVED, 105 00:13:47,259 --> 00:13:55,467 HIS NAME IS SEBASTIEN PROCOPF. AND WE FOUND HIM. >> OKAY. >> AND HE HAD SOMETHING THAT HE 106 00:13:55,534 --> 00:14:13,652 WANTED TO SAY TO YOU, SO LET ME INTRODUCE YOU. >> HIM SEBASTIEN, I'M 18. I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM HIGH 107 00:14:13,719 --> 00:14:19,825 SCHOOL, AND I'M WORKING TOWARDS GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A CAR AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU TO THE ONE WHO PULLED 108 00:14:19,892 --> 00:14:31,670 ME OUT AND LET ME BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL THE MILESTONES THAT I GOT AND PLAN TO GET. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT. 109 00:14:31,737 --> 00:14:38,877 >> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE HIM TODAY? >> IT KIND OF TAKES MY BREATH AWAY, SCOTT. 110 00:14:38,944 --> 00:14:45,584 THAT HELPS TO BRING SOME CLOSURE AND SOME HELP. >> Reporter: HELP FOR HEROES HAS BEEN THE MISSION OF THE CARNEGIE 111 00:14:45,651 --> 00:14:59,665 FUND FOR 118 YEARS. IT HAS BESTOWED 10,000 MEDALS, AND AWARDED $40 MILLION. BACK IN 1904, ANDREW CARNEGIE 112 00:14:59,732 --> 00:15:05,638 SENSED WHAT SCIENCE HAS NOW CONFIRMED. HEROES, HE SAID, CANNOT BE CREATED. 113 00:15:05,704 --> 00:15:18,250 THEY ACT ON AN IMPULSE, A MYSTERIOUS QUGIFT TO THE FEW. >>> THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COST FOR SOME HEROES. 114 00:15:18,317 --> 00:15:33,198 >> IT'S OKAY TO SAY LOOK, I SHOULD TALK >>> FOR DECADES NOW, RUSSIANS HAVE KNOWN THE DRILL. 115 00:15:33,265 --> 00:15:42,174 WHEN THERE'S BAD NEWS BREWING SUCH AS THE DEATH OF A LEADER OR THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER, STATE TV SWITCHES ITS PROGRAMMING AND 116 00:15:42,241 --> 00:15:50,282 BEGANS AIRING "SWAN LAKE." NOTHING TO SEE HERE, FOLKS. BUT NOTICE THE DISTRACTION, BALLET IS CENTRALLY IMPORTANT TO 117 00:15:50,349 --> 00:15:56,188 RUSSIAN SOCIETY AND TO RUSSIAN IMAGE. DANCERS SLICING THROUGH THE AIR AND CHALLENGING LAWS OF PHYSICS 118 00:15:56,255 --> 00:16:07,499 AND GRAVITY REPRESENTS STABILITY AND GRACE. BUT LAST FEBRUARY, WHEN RUSSIAN MILITARY TROOPS INVADED UKRAINE, 119 00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:17,676 RUSSIAN BALLET TROUPES HAD THEIR SHOWS CANCELED. AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST YEAR, THIS BRUTAL WAR PLAYS OUT ON THE 120 00:16:17,743 --> 00:16:25,651 MOST DELICATE OF FRONTS, LEAVING BALLET IN EXILE. WHEN BALLET DANCERS ARE DESCRIBED AS GOD'S ATHLETES, 121 00:16:25,718 --> 00:16:34,660 WELL, YOU COULD OFFER UP OLGA SMIRNOVA AS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. SHE TREADS ON AIR, COMING IN ON LITTLE CAT FEET. 122 00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:43,102 SHE'S A RUSSIAN PRIMA BALLERINA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING DANCERS. DAYS AFTER RUSSIA INVADED 123 00:16:43,168 --> 00:16:50,175 UKRAINE, SMIRNOVA PIROUETTED AND STEPPED OFF HER STAGE WITH DRAMATIC FLOURISH. SHE TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO 124 00:16:50,242 --> 00:17:05,023 EXPRESS HER OUTRAGE. AND THEN FLED THE COUNTRY. THE MODERN DAY VERSION OF BA BARISHNAKOV DEFECTING. 125 00:17:05,090 --> 00:17:13,499 WHAT DID YOU SAY WHEN YOU WROTE THAT POST? >> I COULDN'T KEEP IT INSIDE. I WAS SO ASHAMED OF RUSSIA. 126 00:17:13,565 --> 00:17:20,472 I'M NOT ASHAMED THAT I'M RUSSIAN, BUT I AM ASHAMED BECAUSE OF RUSSIA STARTED THIS ACTION. 127 00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:25,411 >> I WANT TO READ WHAT YOU WROTE. YOU SAID YOU WERE AGAINST THIS WAR WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOUR 128 00:17:25,477 --> 00:17:33,485 BEING, BUT I FEEL THAT A LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN THAT SEPARATES THE BEFORE AND THE AFTER. >> IT'S HOW I FELT. 129 00:17:33,552 --> 00:17:48,167 THIS WAS THE LINE, BECAUSE IT ALL CHANGED, ALL CHANGED THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A SOLDIER, 130 00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:56,708 YOU ARE JUST RUSSIAN, IT'S SO -- IT'S STILL MAKE A SHADOW ON YOU. >> BEING RUSSIAN? >> BEING RUSSIAN. 131 00:17:56,775 --> 00:18:03,916 IT'S REALLY PAINFUL. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: PREDICTABLY, SMIRNOVA'S POST WENT VIRAL. 132 00:18:03,982 --> 00:18:16,028 SHE WAS, AFTER ALL, A LEADING LIGHT AT MOSCOW'S BALLET. FROM THE RUSSIAN WORD FOR "BIG," BOLCHOY IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST 133 00:18:16,094 --> 00:18:28,407 BALLET COMPANY AND THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS. THE THEATER IS PHYSICALLY CLOSE TO THE CELKREMLIN, AND ALIGN EDH 134 00:18:28,474 --> 00:18:35,280 THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. FOR DECADES, COMMUNIST LEADERS USED THE THEATER FOR POLITICAL STAGE CRAFT, HOLDING RALLIES AND 135 00:18:35,347 --> 00:18:43,055 GIVING NATIONAL ADDRESSES THERE. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CELEBRATES RUSSIA. EVERY IMPORTANT GUEST WHO VISIT 136 00:18:43,121 --> 00:18:54,600 THE SOVIET UNION WILL BE INVITED TO SEE A PERFORMANCE, AND THERE WAS A PRIDE OF RUSSIA AT ANY TIME. 137 00:18:54,666 --> 00:19:02,875 >> Reporter: ALEXY TRAINED HERE, AND WAS, FOR A TIME, ITS ARTIST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. HE WAS BORN IN RUSSIA, BUT GREW 138 00:19:02,941 --> 00:19:11,984 UP IN KYIV WHERE HIS PARENTS STILL LIVE. AT THE TIME OF THE INVASION, HE WAS IN RUSSIA CHOREOGRAPHING TWO 139 00:19:12,050 --> 00:19:18,557 BALLETS. HE LEFT THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY, UNWILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING IN A WORLD SO TIED TO THE PUTIN 140 00:19:18,624 --> 00:19:32,437 REGIME. >> AS I WAS GOING IN A TAXI TO THE AIRPORT, I FELT THIS LIKE SAND CASTLES FALLING APART 141 00:19:32,504 --> 00:19:38,777 BEHIND MY BACK. >> THE SAND CASTLES WERE THE WORK YOU HAD DONE? >> YES, YES, YES. 142 00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:46,885 I WAS IN AGONY. IT WAS A VERY HARD DAY. >> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE, A CATASTROPHIC DAY FOR UKRAINE. 143 00:19:46,952 --> 00:19:52,991 INDISCRIMINATE BOMBINGS AND MISSILE STRIKES RAINING DOWN ON THE COUNTRY, CRUSHING LIVES AND DREAMS. 144 00:19:53,058 --> 00:20:02,301 NOT LEAST, THOSE OF AN ASCENDANT BALLERINA FROM KYIV. YOU WANTED TO BE A BALLERINA FOR YEARS AND YEARS. 145 00:20:02,367 --> 00:20:08,106 WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL, COULDN'T DANCE? >> I WAS SHOCKED. 146 00:20:08,173 --> 00:20:17,382 AT FIRST, WHAT I'M THINKING IS I LEFT MY SHOES IN COLLEGE. >> THAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT SP 147 00:20:17,449 --> 00:20:23,622 >> YES. I LEFT EVERYTHING, ACTUALLY. >> Reporter: WAR DIDN'T STOP HER IN HER FOOTSTEPS. 148 00:20:23,689 --> 00:20:30,028 SHE RESUMED DANCING AT HOME, USING WHATEVER SHE COULD AS A BAR. BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS, HER 149 00:20:30,095 --> 00:20:40,672 PARENTS, BOTH FORMER DANCERS, FOCUSED ON GETTING PAULINA OUT. THEY CALLED ON A FAMOUSLY WELL-CONNECTED FIGURE IN THE 150 00:20:40,739 --> 00:20:52,951 TIGHT KNIT BALLERINA COMMUNITY. YOU'RE GET THING BARRAGE OF EMAILS FROM PARENTS AND DANCERS. WHAT ARE THEY ASKING YOU? 151 00:20:53,018 --> 00:20:57,689 >> PLEASE HELP. GET US OUT OF HERE. THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY HAVE 152 00:20:57,756 --> 00:21:06,365 TO DANCE, AND THE PARENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE DO, THEY HAVE TO DANCE. >> THIS WAS THEIR LIFELINE? 153 00:21:06,431 --> 00:21:10,636 >> THIS IS IT. THEY COULD NOT IMAGINE NOT DANCING. ♪ ♪ 154 00:21:10,702 --> 00:21:19,144 >> Reporter: IN THE 1990s, SHE FOUNDED YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX. A BALLET COMPETITION AND 155 00:21:19,211 --> 00:21:25,150 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, PAIRING ASPIRING DANCERS WITH BALLET SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE. >> WELL, NO, THEY WANT TO SEE 156 00:21:25,217 --> 00:21:30,889 HER FOR A FULL YEAR, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME FOR THE SUMMER FIRST. >> Reporter: NOW, IN A 157 00:21:30,956 --> 00:21:40,699 HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, SHE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMMUNITY, SCRAMBLED TO ACTION. SHE RELOCATED MORE THAN 100 158 00:21:40,766 --> 00:21:50,175 YOUNG UKRAINIAN DANCERS TO NEW SCHOOLS AND HOST FAMILIES. >> WE GIVE EACH CHILD A NUMBER, JUST TO MOVE FASTER, AND WE SAY 159 00:21:50,242 --> 00:22:03,922 OKAY, NUMBER 55 IS LIKE JUST GET A SPOT IN STUTTGART. NUMBER 54, JUST GET A SPOT IN DRESDREN. 160 00:22:03,989 --> 00:22:13,999 >> Reporter: WHEN A SPOT OPENED FOR PAULINA, SHE STUFFED HER THINGS IN A BAG AND HEADED TO KYIV'S TRAIN STATION. 161 00:22:14,066 --> 00:22:19,938 >> MY PARENTS ARE IN THE WINDOW OF TRAIN, THEY SAID GOODBYE, WE LOVE YOU. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. 162 00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:27,279 AND I WAS CRYING AND WE WERE ALL CRYING. I WAS THINKING MAYBE I NEED TO TAKE MY SUITCASE AND GO BACK TO 163 00:22:27,345 --> 00:22:35,821 MY FAMILY, BECAUSE MY HEART WAS BROKEN. >> HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT? WHAT MADE YOU NOT GET OFF THAT 164 00:22:35,887 --> 00:22:41,727 TRAIN? >> BECAUSE IT'S OPEN DOOR FOR ME. IT'S A DOOR FOR MY DREAM. 165 00:22:41,793 --> 00:22:52,571 ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: THE 17-YEAR-OLD THAT SHE, IS PAULINA DOCUMENTED THE LONELY ODYSSEY ON TIKTOK. 166 00:22:52,637 --> 00:22:58,577 TRAINS AND BUSES, FIVE DAYS AND 1200 MILES. KYIV TO LVIV. POLAND TO BERLIN. 167 00:22:58,643 --> 00:23:05,751 FINALLY TO AMSTERDAM, WHERE SHE LANDED AT THE DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET ACADEMY, ONE OF THE LEADING SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD. 168 00:23:05,817 --> 00:23:15,260 WHEN YOU GOT TO THE NEW SCHOOL AND STARTED DANCING AGAIN, HOW DID THAT FEEL? >> OH, I WAS VERY HAPPY, YES. 169 00:23:15,327 --> 00:23:22,234 MY MIND CHANGED BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY PARENTS ALL THE TIME FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY SISTER. 170 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:31,109 WHEN I GO TO BALLET CLASS, THE WORLD CHANGED FOR ME. I HAVE ANOTHER WORLD OF BALLET. >> Reporter: HER ADJUSTMENT WAS 171 00:23:31,176 --> 00:23:40,252 MADE EASIER WHEN SHE FOUND OTHER UKRAINIAN DANCE STUDENTS WHO, THANKS TO LARISA, ALSO FOUND SAFE HARBOR IN AMSTERDAM. 172 00:23:40,318 --> 00:23:48,026 ♪ ♪ PAULINA FELL INTO A ROUTINE IMMEDIATELY. ON THE CUSP OF A PROFESSIONAL 173 00:23:48,093 --> 00:23:58,503 CAREER, SHE PREPARED FOR FINAL EXAMS. SHE WAS JIJITTERY BEFORE HAND. SHE EMERGED RELIEVED, 174 00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:06,511 TRIUMPHANT, AND EAGER TO REPORT BACK TO MOM. WHAT DID YOU TELL HER? >> THAT I WAS NERVOUS, BUT WHEN 175 00:24:06,578 --> 00:24:15,587 I START, I DO EVERYTHING RIGHT. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: IF THE WAR HAS MADE REFUGEES OUT OF SOME UKRAINIAN 176 00:24:15,654 --> 00:24:22,427 DANCERS, IT'S MADE SOLDIERS OUT OF OTHERS. WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, ALEXY, A PRINCIPAL DANCE WE ARE UKRAINE'S 177 00:24:22,494 --> 00:24:30,836 NATIONAL BALLET, TURNED IN HIS TIGHTS FOR MILITARY FATIGUES. HERE HE IS IN DOWNTOWN LVIV, HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM DUTY 178 00:24:30,902 --> 00:24:40,879 AS A MEDIC. WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE THE WAR? >> BEFORE WAR, I PREPARE NEW 179 00:24:40,946 --> 00:24:48,553 PREMIER IN UKRAINIAN BALLET. LIKE A REAL NORMAL LIFE. AND JUST ONE MOMENT IT'S LIKE CHANGES. 180 00:24:48,620 --> 00:24:58,496 BUT I NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I CAN'T JUST SIT AT HOME IN SHELTER AND WATCH TV, HOW MY FRIENDS DIE AND EVERYONE DO 181 00:24:58,563 --> 00:25:06,972 SOMETHING. >> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN THE LAST FEW MONTHS? >> EVERY DAY, IT'S REALLY SCARY. 182 00:25:07,038 --> 00:25:16,214 THEY DESTROYED HOUSES OF CIVILIANS PEOPLE. IT'S BROTHERS, SONS, FATHERS, SISTERS. 183 00:25:16,281 --> 00:25:23,688 >> Reporter: WHILE HE SAYS HE'S SHAKEN BY WHAT HE'S SEEN UNFOLD ON THE BATTLEFIELD, HE'S APPALLED BY A WAR TAKING PLACE 184 00:25:23,755 --> 00:25:30,328 ON ANOTHER FRONT, AT THE BOLSHOY. >> IT'S NOW TOXIC. NOBODY WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU. 185 00:25:30,395 --> 00:25:43,541 >> YOU SAID TOXIC? >> YES. IN RUSSIA ART, IT'S POLITICS, IT'S RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT USE IT, 186 00:25:43,608 --> 00:25:57,555 IT'S LIKE WEAPON. >> Reporter: THE WEAPON WAS DEPLOYED AT THE BOLSHOY THIS PAST APRIL, UNNERVING MANY IN 187 00:25:57,622 --> 00:26:04,696 THE DANCE WORLD, INCLUDING HEAD OF THE DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET, TED BRANSON. >> WELL, IT WAS A VERY CLEAR 188 00:26:04,763 --> 00:26:14,205 STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR BOYS WHO ARE ON A MILITARY OPERATION TO SAVE UKRAINE FROM THE FASCISTS, WHICH 189 00:26:14,272 --> 00:26:28,219 IS A TOTALLY RIDICULOUS CONCEPT. >> THIS ALLEGORY SPARTACUS -- >> IT'S NOT FOR SOMETHING THAT THIS BECAME ONE OF THE SIGNATURE 190 00:26:28,286 --> 00:26:37,262 BALLETS OF THE SOVIET TIME. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: ABROAD, THE BALLET COMMUNITY HAS STAGED BENEFIT 191 00:26:37,329 --> 00:26:46,404 CONCERTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR UKRAINE, WHILE RUSSIA'S NAMED COMPANIES HAVE HAD THEIR TOURING DATES CANCELED. 192 00:26:46,471 --> 00:26:55,880 >> I THINK IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THE ARMS. >> Reporter: WITH THE IRON CURTAIN DOWN, ARTISTS HAVE TO 193 00:26:55,947 --> 00:27:03,989 PICK A SIDE. WE SPOKE WITH ONE REMOTELY THIS PAST APRIL. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T BUY 194 00:27:04,055 --> 00:27:10,428 THIS IDEA THAT LOOK, INDIVIDUALS SHOULDN'T BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTS OF THE STATE, THAT ARTISTS SHOULD 195 00:27:10,495 --> 00:27:16,034 JUST BE ARTISTS. >> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THE ARTISTS ARE SEPARATE FROM POLITICS. 196 00:27:16,101 --> 00:27:23,575 AND BESIDES, FOR ME, IT'S NOT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT HUMANITY, IT'S ABOUT RESPONDING TO WAR CRIMES, 197 00:27:23,641 --> 00:27:34,252 RESPONDING TO THE CRIMES OF YOUR GOVERNMENT, OF YOUR PRESIDENT. >> IT JUST MADE THINGS CLEAR, WHICH THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND 198 00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:39,691 WHICH RESAREN'T. AND YOU MAKE A CHOICE. YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO BELONG. 199 00:27:39,758 --> 00:27:45,530 >> Reporter: FOR OLGA SMIRNOVA, THAT CHOICE CAME TOGETHER IN A MATTER OF DAYS AFTER SHE CONDEMNED THE WAR. 200 00:27:45,597 --> 00:27:51,870 SHE LEFT RUSSIA AND LANDED ON HER FEET. AT THE DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA IN AMSTERDAM, JUST AROUND THE 201 00:27:51,936 --> 00:28:05,016 CORNER FROM PAULINA'S SCHOOL. IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO LEAVE THE BOLSHOY. >> IF YOU MAKE A CHOICE, YOU 202 00:28:05,083 --> 00:28:18,096 HAVE CONSEQUENCES. BUT THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. I HAD TO LEAVE EVERYTHING. MY HOME, MY THEATER, MY 203 00:28:18,163 --> 00:28:26,171 REPERTOIRE, MY PARTNERS, MY PARENTS, SISTER, BROTHER, EVERYTHING. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE REGRETS. 204 00:28:26,237 --> 00:28:33,278 >> NO REGRETS? >> NO. OF COURSE, AT LEAST I CAN BE HONEST WITH MYSELF. 205 00:28:33,344 --> 00:28:41,719 >> Reporter: AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIST HOWARD BUFFET, SON OF WARREN BUFFETT, WATCHED OUR STORY LAST YEAR. 206 00:28:41,786 --> 00:28:56,267 HIS FOUNDATION GRANTED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO HELP SUPPORT THE EXILED UKRAINIAN 207 00:28:56,768 --> 00:29:03,408 >>> IN THE WORLD OF SKIING, THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SKIERS. THOSE WHO LIKE TO STAY ON THE GROOMED RUNS AND BE GUIDED 208 00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:10,381 GENTLY AROUND OBSTACLES. AND THOSE WHO LIKE TO SKI THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN AND SKI TOWARDS THE OBSTACLES. 209 00:29:10,448 --> 00:29:18,990 THAT IS CALLED FREE RIDING. MAN MADE JUMPS AND HALFPIPES ARE REJECTED IN FAVOR OF THE JAGGED CLIFFS AND DEEP CHUTES CREATED 210 00:29:19,057 --> 00:29:27,565 BY MOTHER NATURE. THE SPORT TOOK OFF IN THE '90s AND IS NOW ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DISCIPLINES IN SKIING. 211 00:29:27,632 --> 00:29:33,972 IT ATTRACTS SOME OF THE BRAVEST SKIERS IN THE WORLD. BUT AS SHARYN ALFONSI FIRST REPORTED LAST MARCH, EVEN AMONG 212 00:29:34,038 --> 00:29:44,482 THAT GROUP, 15-YEAR-OLD JACOB SMITH STANDS OUT. WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE HE CANNOT. 213 00:29:44,549 --> 00:29:55,160 >> Reporter: THIS IS BIG SKY, MONTANA. HOME TO SOME OF THE STEEPEST AND MOST CHALLENGING SKI CLONSLOPES 214 00:29:55,226 --> 00:30:00,198 THE COUNTRY. AND THAT IS JACOB SMITH, WHO IS BLIND. THREE YEARS AGO, HE WAS JUST 12 215 00:30:00,265 --> 00:30:08,806 YEARS OLD AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE TOP OF THE 11,000 FOOT HIGH LONE PEAK TO SKI DOWN IT. WATCH THIS. 216 00:30:08,873 --> 00:30:18,716 >> DROPPING IN THREE, TWO, ONE. >> Reporter: JACOB DROPS INTO A NARROW, ROCK WALLED 1400 FOOT CHUTE. 217 00:30:18,783 --> 00:30:23,788 THAT DOT IS HIM, MAKING HIS WAY TURN BY TURN. A WRONG MOVE CAN BE CATASTROPHIC. 218 00:30:23,855 --> 00:30:31,296 THE RUN HAS A 50-DEGREE SLOPE, WHICH MEAN IT IS YOU SLID DOWN, THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE YOU COULD STOP YOURSELF. 219 00:30:31,362 --> 00:30:37,769 >> WHEN YOU'RE STANDING AT THE TOP, YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU MOVE, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. >> THAT'S THE MOMENT MOST PEOPLE 220 00:30:37,835 --> 00:30:45,410 WOULD SAY NOT A GOOD IDEA. >> I JUST THINK, I'M ALREADY UP HERE, SO I HAVE TO MAKE IT DOWN SOMEHOW. 221 00:30:45,476 --> 00:30:52,850 >> Reporter: HE DID, AND BECAME THE ONLY LEGALLY BLIND ATHLETE TO SKI THE LEGENDARY RUN. >> YOU DID IT. 222 00:30:52,917 --> 00:30:58,423 >> THAT WAS AWESOME. >> HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE. >> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM? 223 00:30:58,489 --> 00:31:04,429 >> EXCITED THAT I DID IT. I DIDN'T CRASH. THAT WAS AWESOME. I MADE IT FOUR MORE TIMES, SO I 224 00:31:04,495 --> 00:31:09,767 WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN. >> YOU WERE TESTING YOUR LUCK THAT WAY. >> WE HAVE JACOB SMITH ON 225 00:31:09,834 --> 00:31:16,174 COURSE. >> Reporter: JACOB IS STILL TESTING HIS LUCK AND GOOD SENSE. WE MET HIM IN JANUARY AT A 226 00:31:16,241 --> 00:31:23,114 JUNIOR REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN BIG SKY. THAT'S HIM, NOW 15 YEARS OLD. COMPETING AGAINST 40 OTHER 227 00:31:23,181 --> 00:31:33,524 TEENAGE DAREDEVILS, ALL OF WHOM CAN SEE PERFECTLY WELL. >> COMING RIGHT OFF THE TOP, FINDING A GOOD LANDING. 228 00:31:33,591 --> 00:31:42,400 THIS TIME, THE BACKGROUND FOR ALL THE COMPETITOR'S SPECTACULAR EXPERIMENT WITH GRAVITY, WAS ANOTHER TRIPLE DIAMOND CHUTE, 229 00:31:42,467 --> 00:31:51,309 APPROPRIATELY NAMED DTM. DTM STANDS FOR? >> DON'T TELL MOMMA. >> IT'S AN INSANE RUN, LIKE A 45 230 00:31:51,376 --> 00:31:55,813 DEGREE SLOPE. >> YEAH. >> DO THE JUDGES GIVE YOU ANY SLACK FOR BEING BLIND? 231 00:31:55,880 --> 00:32:02,820 >> NO, ZERO. >> DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD? >> NO, I WANT TO BE TREATED NORM ALSO I CAN COMPETE WITH OTHER 232 00:32:02,887 --> 00:32:08,693 SIGHTED SKIERS. >> Reporter: IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. WE WORKED WITH HIS DOCTORS AND 233 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:14,766 OUR GRAPHIC ARTIST TO SHOW ROUGHLY WHAT JACOB CAN SEE ON A RUN. HE HAS EXTREME TUNNEL VISION, 234 00:32:14,832 --> 00:32:21,572 AND NO DEPTH PERCEPTION ON TOP OF THAT. IT'S BLURRY. HIS VISUAL ACUITY IS RATED 2800, 235 00:32:21,639 --> 00:32:27,512 FOUR TIMES THE LEVEL OF LEGAL BLINDNESS. THINK OF THE BI E ON THE EYE CHART. 236 00:32:27,578 --> 00:32:35,586 HE WOULD NEED IT TO BE BLOWN UP FOUR TIMES IN ORDER TO SEE IT FROM 20 FEET AWAY. >> FANTASTIC SKI TECHNIQUE. 237 00:32:35,653 --> 00:32:41,192 YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL HE'S VISUALLY IMPAIRED. >> Reporter: SO HOW DOES JACOB SKI LIKE THIS? 238 00:32:41,259 --> 00:32:50,702 HIS FAMILY KEEPS HIM ON COURSE. ON COMPETITION DAYS, HIS LITTLE BROTHER, PRESTON, HELPS HIM HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE VENUE. 239 00:32:50,768 --> 00:32:56,274 IT'S SO HIGH, THE DIFFICULTS WON'T TAKE YOU THERE. >> DOWN, DOWN. PERFECT, PERFECT. 240 00:32:56,341 --> 00:33:01,346 KEEP GOING. >> Reporter: THEN HIS FATHER, NATHAN, HELPS HIM GET DOWN. >> NICE TURNS. 241 00:33:01,412 --> 00:33:07,285 NICE TURNS. >> Reporter: JACOB HAS A TWO-WAY RADIO TURNED UP HIGH IN HIS POCKET. 242 00:33:07,352 --> 00:33:18,463 HIS DAD IS ON THE OTHER END AT THE BASE, SOMEHOW CALMLY GUIDING HIM DOWN. >> IT'S ON ME TO MAKE SURE I 243 00:33:18,529 --> 00:33:23,935 DON'T LET HIM DOWN. I HAVE TO GUIDE HIM THROUGH NARROW CHUTES OR NOT GO OFF A CLIFF. 244 00:33:24,001 --> 00:33:29,574 >> YOU HAVE TO BE HIS EYES. >> YEAH. >> AND THERE CAN'T BE A DELAY. HE CAN'T SAY, ARE YOU SURE, DAD? 245 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:37,682 >> NO. >> HAVE YOU EVER MISSED IT? I FORTOGOT TO TELL HIM ABOUT TH? >> OH, YEAH, ALL THE TIME. 246 00:33:37,749 --> 00:33:47,024 BUT HIS ADAPTATION IS AMAZING. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST HIM? >> ENOUGH TO TURN RIGHT WHEN HE TELLS ME TO. 247 00:33:47,091 --> 00:33:53,030 >> JACOB IS PUTTING HIS ALL IN MY DAD'S VOICE. IT'S CRAZY, LISTENING TO SOMEONE TURN THERE, TURN THERE. 248 00:33:53,097 --> 00:34:02,106 >> COULD YOU DO THAT? >> IT'S LIKE CLOSING YOUR EYES. >> Reporter: HIS SIBLINGS ARE ALL COMPETITIVE SKIERS. 249 00:34:02,173 --> 00:34:10,782 THAT'S ANDREW, 17, DOING A 360. PRESTON IS 14, JULIA IS 12. DO THE OTHER COMPETITORS KNOW HE'S BLIND? 250 00:34:10,848 --> 00:34:19,157 >> SOME DO. BUT THEY ALWAYS ANNOUNCE IT OVER THE INTERCOM THAT BLIND SKIER JACOB COMING DOWN THE HILLFUL 251 00:34:19,223 --> 00:34:24,562 >> -- HILL. >> HE IS THE ONLY I HAVE TO SAY BLIND SKIER. 252 00:34:24,629 --> 00:34:31,302 >> WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW? >> HE'S SUCH A GOOD SKIER FOR LEGALLY BLIND. 253 00:34:31,369 --> 00:34:40,445 >> IF WE TELL ANYBODY THAT HE'S LEGALLY BLIND, NOBODY BELIEVES US. THEY JUST GIVE US A BAD LUCK. 254 00:34:40,511 --> 00:34:46,884 >> JACOB WAS BORN WITH VISION. AFTER HE LEARNED TO WALK, HE WAS ON SKIS. FAMILY VACATIONS WERE SPENT 255 00:34:46,951 --> 00:34:53,357 BONDING DOWN THE TRAILS AT BIG SKY WITH HIS FAMILY. BUT IT WAS BACK HOME AT THEIR RANCH IN NORTH DAKOTA THAT AN 256 00:34:53,424 --> 00:35:00,498 UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE CHANGED JACOB'S LIFE. HE STARTED GETTING HEADACHES AND BEGAN BUMPING INTO THINGS. 257 00:35:00,565 --> 00:35:07,104 HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD. >> I RAN INTO A WALL OR SOMETHING THAT MY MOM SAW. AND TWO DAYS AFTER I WENT TO THE 258 00:35:07,171 --> 00:35:16,214 EYE DOCTOR, AND HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT MY EYES, LOOKED AT MY MOM AND JUST ASKED, WHICH HOSPITAL DO YOU WANT? 259 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:22,787 MY OPTIC NERVE WAS SWELLING AND BLEEDING. >> DID YOU HAVE ANY SENSE THAT THINGS WERE GOING WRONG UNTIL 260 00:35:22,854 --> 00:35:28,426 THAT POINT? >> NO. >> Reporter: THAT DAY, JACOB WAS FLOWN HERE, TO THE MASONIC 261 00:35:28,493 --> 00:35:36,601 CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE HE UNDERWENT AN EMERGENCY 12-HOUR SURGERY AFTER AN MRI REVEALED A 262 00:35:36,667 --> 00:35:44,308 CANCEROUS BRAIN TUMOR THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL THAT WAS CRUSHING HIS OPTIC NERVE. >> SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN 263 00:35:44,375 --> 00:35:50,915 IN MY LIFE. IT LOOKED LIKE HALF HIS BRAIN WAS A TUMOR. >> SO YOU'RE NOT THINKING YOU'RE 264 00:35:50,982 --> 00:35:57,388 WORRIED HE'S GOING TO LOSE HIS VISION -- >> I'M GOING TO BURY A KID. >> Reporter: IN THAT FIRST 265 00:35:57,455 --> 00:36:05,997 SURGERY, DOCTORS REMOVED ENOUGH OF THE TUMOR TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON HIS OPTIC NERVE, TO STOP HIS VISION FROM CONTINUING 266 00:36:06,063 --> 00:36:13,771 TO DETERIORATE. HERE HE IS LEAVING A MESSAGE FOR HIS SIBLINGS A FEW DAYS LATER. >> I'M GOING TO MISS YOU ALL A 267 00:36:13,838 --> 00:36:27,552 LOT. I REALLY, REALLY DO. MY VISION IS GETTING BETTER. I'M REALLY EXCITED. 268 00:36:27,618 --> 00:36:33,925 >> Reporter: BUT JACOB WOULD NEED THREE MORE MAJOR BRAIN SURGERIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, ALL BEFORE HE WAS 12 269 00:36:33,991 --> 00:36:43,134 YEARS OLD. EACH TIME WITH AN EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION. >> DID YOU EVER GET DOWN ABOUT 270 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:55,980 IT? >> LIKE, I DID, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WASJUST PRAYED A LOT. >> WERE YOU PRAYING FOR THIS TO 271 00:36:56,047 --> 00:37:02,453 BE OVER, TO GET YOUR VISION SFWHAK BACK? >> THAT I WOULD STAY ALIVE AND 272 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:10,761 GET THROUGH IT AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: FINALLY IN 2017, A COURSE OF RADIATION ERADICATED 273 00:37:10,828 --> 00:37:20,805 THE CANCER AND HE GOT A CLEAN SCAN, BUT IT INCREASED HIS LIKELINESS OF ANOTHER BRAIN TUMOR UP TO 30%. 274 00:37:20,871 --> 00:37:29,213 >> RIGHT NOW, THE TUMOR WE ORIGINALLY TARGETED IS GONE, YOU KNOW, SO FAR SO GOOD. >> DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE 275 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,916 EXHALED. >> I DON'T THINK YOU EVER EXHALE. >> BECAUSE? 276 00:37:31,983 --> 00:37:39,156 >> BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THE WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET PUT INTO THAT SITUATION THAT YOU NEVER FELT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN 277 00:37:39,223 --> 00:37:46,163 OR EXPECTED, I DON'T THINK YOU WILL EVER EXHALE AND GO, WE'RE DONE. >> WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO RETURN 278 00:37:46,230 --> 00:37:52,036 TO SKIING? >> WELL, MY DAD'S. >> TURN AND GO STRAIGHT THROUGH. >> WE CAME OUT HERE AND WE KIND 279 00:37:52,103 --> 00:38:00,411 OF JUST TRIED IT OUT. EVERYWHERE I WENT SKIING FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO WAS WITH MY DAD OR A COACH. 280 00:38:00,478 --> 00:38:06,584 >> YOU TAUGHT YOUR KIDS TO SKI BUT NEVER A BLIND CHILD TO SKI. >> NO. >> SO YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU 281 00:38:06,651 --> 00:38:12,790 WERE DOING? >> NO. >> TELL ME ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS. >> AT FIRST, EVERYONE SAID GET A 282 00:38:12,857 --> 00:38:18,295 ROPE AND A SIGN THAT HE'S A BLIND SKIER. I SAID NO, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION. >> BECAUSE WHY? 283 00:38:18,362 --> 00:38:25,603 >> I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT DEFINE HIM. >> Reporter: FATHER AND SON AND MITT THEY'RE TRYING TO CARVE 284 00:38:25,670 --> 00:38:31,842 THEIR OWN PATH, FIGURING IT OUT AS THEY GO. JACOB SAYS HE'S LEARNED TO LISTEN FOR DANGER. 285 00:38:31,909 --> 00:38:40,818 OTHER SKIERS, THE TURNING OF A LIFT, OR ICY CONDITIONS UNDERFOOT. HE SAYS HE REMEMBERS MANY OF THE 286 00:38:40,885 --> 00:38:46,924 RUNS FOR WHEN HE COULD SEE. CAN YOU FEEL YOUR WAY DOWN A RUN YOU DIDN'T GO ON BEFORE YOU LOST YOUR VISION? 287 00:38:46,991 --> 00:38:54,999 >> I MEAN, YEAH, I CAN. AND I'VE DONE IT. >> HOW DOES IT WORK OUT? >> PRETTY SCARY. 288 00:38:55,066 --> 00:39:02,540 AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES ME A MINUTE. >> THAT'S GOT TO BE TERRIFYING. >> YOU GET USED TO IT. 289 00:39:02,606 --> 00:39:10,081 >> HOW MANY CRASHES WERE THERE IN THOSE EARLY DAYS? >> I CAN'T COUNT THAT HIGH. >> Reporter: WHEN JACOB WAS 10, 290 00:39:10,147 --> 00:39:17,154 HE SHATTERED HIS FEMUR IN 60 PLACES. HE SKIED INTO A TREE. ARE YOU NOT NERVOUS THAT THERE'S 291 00:39:17,221 --> 00:39:23,661 GOING TO BE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, THAT HE COULD DIE DOING THIS? >> IT'S NOT THE WAY I ENVISION 292 00:39:23,728 --> 00:39:28,099 LIFE. I DON'T LOOK FOR THE REASONS NOT TO DO THINGS. I'M NOT GOING TO PUT HIM IN 293 00:39:28,165 --> 00:39:33,938 SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT GOING THROUGH FIRST, THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF FALLING ARE NOT GOING TO BE LIFE THREATENING. 294 00:39:34,004 --> 00:39:42,747 >> WHAT ARE YOU FEARFUL OF? >> THE ONLY BIG FEAR I HAVE IS NOT SUCCEEDING. >> YOU'RE MORE AFRAID OF NOT 295 00:39:42,813 --> 00:39:46,817 SUCCEEDING THAN YOU ARE OF GETTING HURT? >> YES. >> WHY IS THAT? 296 00:39:46,884 --> 00:39:56,093 >> BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY LOST MY VISION, SO A COUPLE OF BROKEN BONES AND A COUPLE MORE MISHAPS ISN'T A BIG DEAL TO ME AT ALL. 297 00:39:56,160 --> 00:40:07,138 >> CLEARLY, HE'S FEARLESS. AS A PARENT, ARE YOU NOT FEARFUL? >> HE'S NOT RECKLESS. 298 00:40:07,204 --> 00:40:16,213 HE KNOWS HIS LIMITATIONS. HE'S NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO IT BY HIMSELF. HE WON'T SKI WITH PEOPLE HE 299 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:25,356 DOESN'T TRUST. >> Reporter: NATHAN SAID HE'S CAUTIOUS ABOUT SKIING AND SKIING ON LOW VISIBILITY DAYS. 300 00:40:25,422 --> 00:40:33,264 STILL, HE FINDS A WAY TO KEEP UP WITH HIS SIBLINGS. THEY ARE AN ENVIABLE PACK ON THE MOWN TEAR. 301 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:38,102 DO YOU SEE HIM BEING SUPER PLUGGED INTO EVERYTHING ELSE, LIKE THE SOUNDS. HERE'S THE LIFT, THE SNOW. 302 00:40:38,169 --> 00:40:46,777 WHAT DO YOU SEE? >> HIS HEARING IS VERY -- HE CHOOSES WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN? 303 00:40:46,844 --> 00:40:53,884 >> THERE'S TIMES AT HOME WHERE YOU CAN SAY HIS NAME A THOUSAND TIMES AND HE'LL PRETEND LIKE HE DIDN'T HEAR ONE WORD. 304 00:40:53,951 --> 00:41:03,093 THEN SKIING, YOU COULD FLICK AND HE WILL JUST TURN. >> Reporter: ON COMPETITION DAY, JACOB SUITS UP AND SENDS IT. 305 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:12,102 >> DROP IN THREE, TWO, ONE. >> Reporter: FINISHING 19th OUT OF 41 COMPETITORS. FOR JACOB, SUCCESS SUSPECT ABOUT 306 00:41:12,169 --> 00:41:19,276 THE TROPHY, IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM. SHOWING OTHERS HOW TO NEGOTIATE OBSTACLES, EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THEM COMING. 307 00:41:19,343 --> 00:41:28,052 >> COMING TO THE FINISH LINE. >> HONESTLY, NO MATTER WHAT GETS THROWN IN FRONT OF YOU, WHAT KIND OF COMES OUT AND STRIKES 308 00:41:28,118 --> 00:41:36,827 YOU, TAKES YOU OFF GUARD A LITTLE BIT, THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO CONQUER IT, TO ADAPT, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. 309 00:41:36,894 --> 00:41:40,431 AND THEN STILL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. 310 00:41:49,607 --> 00:42:00,050 >>> THE LAST MINUTE OF "60 MINUTES" IS SPONSORED BY UNITED HEALTH CARE. GET MEDICARE WITH MORE. 311 00:42:00,117 --> 00:42:08,525 >>> ONE DOWNSIDE OF A CAREER IN JOURNALISM IS HOW FAST IT CAN TRANSFORM AN OPTIMIST INTO A SEASONIC. 312 00:42:08,592 --> 00:42:19,036 SO MUCH AIR TIME IS SPENT ABOUT REPORTING ABOUT DISASTERS AND CHARLTONS AND IDOLS WITH FEET OF PLAY 313 00:42:19,103 --> 00:42:30,447 CLAY, THERE'S LITTLE ROOM LEFT FOR STORIES OF INSPIRATION. STORIES OF RENEWAL, OF HOPE AND OF VIRTUE AREN'T TO BE HAD AMONG 314 00:42:30,514 --> 00:42:36,086 THE MANY TALES OF DOOM AND GLOOM. TALES OF INSPIRATION ARE STORIES TOO. 315 00:42:36,153 --> 00:42:43,427 NOT ONLY CAN THEY INSPIRE THE VIEWER BUT THEY HELP KEEP THE CYNIC AND THE REPORTER AT DAY. AT LEAST FOR A WHILE. 316 00:42:43,494 --> 00:42:48,899 I'M JON WERTHEIM.