sister magdalena never loses hope for a minute. >> translator: i had a call at home and i was told frankie was gone. i said no, no. frankie's alive. they're alive and god's going to get him out of there. >> reporter: even as authorities hint the search may need to wind down, the families are sending a clear message. keep looking. >> 33 men have been trapped underground since august 5th. their families prayed they were alive. those prayers have been answered. >> reporter: august 22nd, a stunning breakthrough. an exploratory drill hits a chamber deep in the earth and comes up with a note attached. all 33 of us are fine in the shelter. >> scenes of joy, tears of happiness in the outside of this mine, located at the northern part of chile, 450 miles north of santiago, our country's capital. we said after 17 days we didn't know anything about them, the mining probe that was drilled