Transcripts For KGO Nightline 20121201 : vimarsana.com

Over 580 million, thats a lot of reasons to be curious. Abcs david wright brings us americas newest overnight millionaires. Reporter at a gas station in maryland, a mystery man checks his numbers and then dances a jig. Could it be the powerball shuffle . He says, is this the right numbers . I said, yeah, man, you got them all. Reporter in a small town in missouri, at the high school where they first fell in love, cindy and mark hill today insisted that huge check wont change their lives all that much. We will still be going down to the corner cafe for breakfast or fish day, i can guarantee you that. Were as common as anybody. We just have a little bit more money. Reporter make that a lot more money. And its probably wishful thinking. Already, their neighbors in this town of 496 people cant help but see them differently. Im living in a wealthy neighborhood now. Reporter they all say theyre happy for them. Life just got a little bit easier for them. Especially in these hard times. Reporter cindy hill had been laid off from her job two years ago. She was scheduled for a Job Interview the morning the numbers came out. Good luck. Take a look at tonights number. First, the number 5. Reporter now, she wont have to work another day in her life. Same goes for her husband, mark, whos already quit his job at the local hot dog factory. He says his boss didnt believe him at first. He said, oh, youre kidding. I said, no. About five minutes later, he called back, he said, really . I said, yeah, really. Reporter mark plans to hang onto his old beaten up truck but has his eyes on a red camaro. Cindy hill plans to focus on the kids, especially their youngest, jaden. Jaden has always wanted to go to the beach, so, we may go some place where she can put her taupes in the sand. Its christmas time and we want to be home. We just want everything normal. Reporter what does jaden want for christmas . Pony. Reporter what little girl doesnt . But now her parents can afford one. Always going to remember that first day, those first hours, the first couple of weeks. So, you know, throw a party. Have a fantastic time. Have your friends over. Have your family over. And just make it really, really fun. Shortly after that, youre going to Start Building a team. Reporter a team, as in, an accou accounta accountant, a been shl adviser and a lawyer, people that can say no when everyone else is calling out for a handout. Seattle Financial Adviser Michael Boone specializes in helping the suddenly wealthy. People just come out of the woodwork. I mean, people that you never, ever thought would come around looking for money look for money and its not just people who know you. Its people who dont know you. Reporter the hims are enjoying the honeymoon stage. And somewhere in america, another powerball winner is quietly celebrating an equally good fortune. The gas and go store where they sold that second Winning Ticket this is the lucky machine, i guess. This is the one that did it. Reporter the place is buzzing with speculation. Yeah. I hope its someone that needs the money, and not some really rich money. Reporter why do you think the lottery captivates people so much . Hope. You know, hope, Economic Times are tough right now. Reporter i wonder if youll recognize the winner. Im hoping i do, because a lot of people tell us that, if we sell them the winner, theyre going to, you know, send some money our way. Well time to step up, you know . Reporter maybe its that guy at the maryland gas station, who was so excited about he checked his numbers that he drove off and forgot to buy gas. He wanted everybody to look, to check to see if he wasnt seeing things and he wasnt seeing things. It was the right numbers. Reporter then again, maybe not. Today, we asked store manager bob to take a look at the maryland video. Doesnt look familiar at all. And i dont recognize this person at all. Reporter whoever the arizona winner may be, they may well find that even powerball money cant buy happiness. Florida figures show that lottery winners are three times more likely to declare bankruptcy than nonlottery winners. People are likely to end up in jail. They have an increased likelihood of dramatically bad things happening. Reporter then again, that sort of talk sounds like sour grapes for the rest of us. Even if the chances their lives will be happier is just 50 50, the flip of a coin, its better odds than the lottery. And these winners will have plenty of coins to flip. Im david wright for nightline in phoenix. Instant millionaires. Thanks to david wright for that. Well, just ahead, this is a fascinating story. She grew 14 inches taller with the help of a controversial series of surgeries. One womans incredible journey, next. I had enough of feeling embarrassed about my skin. [ designer ] enough of just covering up my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. I decided enough is enough. [ spa lady ] i started enbrel. Its clinically proven to provide clearer skin. [ rv guy ] enbrel may not work for everyone and may not clear you completely, but for many, it gets skin clearer fast, within 2 months, and keeps it clearer up to 9 months. [ male announcer ] because enbrel®, etanercept, suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. Serious, sometimes fatal, events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, and nervous system and Blood Disorders have occurred. Before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether youve been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. Dont start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. Tell your doctor if youre prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. If youve had enough, ask your dermatologist about enbrel. Announcer nightline continues from new york city with terry moran. A lot of people wish they could be a couple of inches taller. But for one woman, that desire went far beyond a vanity dream. She was born with a form of dwarfism that made every day tasks a challenge. So, she chose to endure a series of extremely painful, risky and controversial surgeries, defying the odds and growing over a foot taller. Abcs juju chang brings us the tory. Happy birthday to you reporter its as if every birthday wish tiffanie ever made came true. Thank you. Reporter but as a woman who once stood only 36, her childhood dreams play out in simple every day little victories. Okay. Ready . Totally. Driving. And were off. Marrying my dream guy. Having a home. Having just a normal life. You know, doing things that a lot of people take for granted. Turning on a light switch, wishing my hands, cooking. Thats what i wanted. And i feel like that was worth the risk. You know . All our nothing. Reporter its all possible because tiffanie endured an excruciating and controversial series of limblentening surgeries that literally break the bones and force them to regrow longer. At a very tender age, tiffanie had to weigh the risks and rewards with a lifetime of consequences in the balance. How many surgeries do you think you had growing up . Too many to count. Reporter tiffanie was born with a rare form of dwarfism. Her body was typical size, but her arms and legs would never fully grow. And whats interesting about this photo is, look at the size of the box. Compared to me. And its a regular present. Reporter at age 8, she had her first surgery to gain alengh in her arms and legs. Describe the pain. It hurt so much, you freeze. It almost is like, if you scream, its going to hurt worse. You know, all you can do is just kind of let the tears fall and deal with it. Reporter tiffanie wanted to do the ghastly surgery again. And this time, ignore the recommended four inch maximum limit. Why did you feel so strongly that you wanted her to have it . It was all about independence. It was doing things on her own, brushing her own hair. My biggest fear was her being dependent on others for her care, because, lets face it, j gerry and i wont be around forever. Reporter but gerry really struggles and opposed the surgery. And it was torture, he says, to see her suffer. Very nerve wracking. She would cry out. It was tough. Reporter and, as a parent, watching your child cry out in pain what is that like . Its horrible. I get choked up just thinking about it. Reporter tiffanie gained an additional ten inches of height. Took about 14 hours. Reporter this doctor was tiffanies Orthopedic Surgeon and allowed her to go beyond the safety recommendations. What allowed tiffanie to gain 14 inches of height, which seems like an unbelievable number . Incredible tenacity. Tiffanie has incredible tenacity. She there were many occasions when she and i talked about stopping the procedure and accepting a compromise. Six inchesov or eight or ten. She wanted to keep going with it. Reporter at the end of the day, what helps you get through it . I kept my journal. I was as honest with myself, if i wanted to die, then i felt like, you know, thats what i wanted to do, i wrote it down. Reporter her journal turned into a memoir she defiantly called dwarf. In it, she chronicles her no pain, no gain view of life and how surprisingly grateful she is for the experience. If you go therough struggle, if you know what sacrifice is, it makes you that much braver. Reporter she got a lot of criticism for people that point out that Little People of america do not support the risky surgery. And there are those who think this is a surgery that shouldnt be done. This is an operation that potentially can dramatically change your life for the better. It does have its risks and those who advocate against it have a legitimate reason for concern. Reporter reza was born with dwarfism and says he regrets that his father pushed him back in the 80s to have it. He was 12. I did not want to undergo painful procedure which, in my mind, i was worried that, what if it fails . For a few inches, i didnt want to damage my life. I was happy with who i am. Reporter unlike tiffanie, reza says the surgery left him paralyzed. Before, it was just an average dwarf, i could run around, i could play sports, i could swim and do things. I would have rather been three feet tall than be, you know, a few inches taller, with all the complications. Reporter tiffanie says she has no regrets. I dont feel like i was being reckless. I was aware of the risk. Reporter her strength and risk taking were admired by a nearly six foot tall marine named eric. Why did you fall in love with her . Oh, how i didnt, thats probably the better question. Shes so powerful and so strong and being in the military, you need somebody that, you know, shes been through her own battles, you know, so, she knows exactly how to support me through mine. Reporter theyve been happily married for four years, and now have a baby boy. Tiffanie is in a new role she never expected. Its just wonderful to know that i can take care of my son. Its a hat i never thought id wear. Now i wear it with pride. Reporter tiffanie seems to personify the militarys fighting fill lphilosophy. Adapt and overcome. I already have everything ive ever wanted. More of it. More. Reporter for nightline, im juju chang in jacksonville, north carolina. Happy birthday to her. What a great story. Thank, juju. Next up, our team joins the search and rescue suede patrolling the treacherous glaciers at the top of the world. [ knock on door ] cool, you found it. Wow. Nice place. Yeah. [ chuckles ] the family thinks im out shipping these. Smooth move. You used Priority Mail flatrate boxes. If it fits, it ships for a low, flat rate. Paid for postage online and arranged a free pickup. And im gonna track them online, too. Nice. Between those boxes and this place, im totally staying sane this year. Do i smell snickerdoodles . Maybe. [ timer dings ] gotta go. [ male announcer ] Priority Mail flat rate boxes. Online pricing starts at 5. 15. Only from the postal service. Icelands famous glaciers are an icy terrain littered with hidden cracks and crevasses. Dangerous for any climber. For the unlucky ones that find themselves lost, their hope for survival is one expert search and rescue team. Jeffrey kofman joins them for an adventure at the top of the world. Reporter theres a reason they call this place iceland. It is covered in glaciers. And for much of the year, it is covered in snow. No wonder those little icelandic horses have such thick hair. Its freezing cold. No easy place to get around, with long nights and short days and very few people. Lots of people get lost. Meet the ice czars, the iceland association of search and rescue. Theres nothing quite like it in the world. With no army, no national police, this is how the lost get found here on top of the world. A volunteer force of 18,000 people. That, in a country with a population of just over 300,000. Why do you do this . I dont know, i think its adrenaline and, you know, somebody has to do it. Reporter we tagged along for a Training Mission with one of the legendary ice czars teams. This group, from the tiny town. They have to raise money to buy all of their equipment. In a place where winter can be long and lonely, rescue squads have become a part of the national fabric. Its easy to see why. Thats a carpenter by day, the rescue team leader, 24 hours a day. There are no paid members of this no, no. No. Reporter and if you dont do it, is there a Government Service that can come in and do it . Let me think no. Reporter the volunteers need a pick tim to practice on. So, they decide im the perfect fall guy. Hes breathing. Hes unconscious. We have to hourry. Reporter i understand that. That was icelandic for one, two, three. Theres a reason they do these training sessions. Whats the problem . We have we were having a bit of a problem with the yellow line. Its stretched too much. Reporter after a long and cold delay, the ropes are rerigged and all right, i think im going up. This takes a huge amount of effort on the part of the rescuers. A huge amount of trust on my part. Okay, that last bit was a little bit unnerving. Feeling that you could just roll over down the cliff. But im here. And the practice isnt over. Theres an ice wall to be climbed. Theyre going to show me how easy it is. Or not. This is a lot of work. All right, thats why we have a rope. I have to get my head up. Well. That was fun. There. Okay. How do i get down here . Well, at least i know who to call if i need help. Im Jeffrey Kofman for nightline on the glacier in iceland. Well done, jeffrey. Thanks for that. Thank you for watching abc news. We hope you check in for good morning america. Theyre working while youre sleeping. Weaver alwa were always online at abcnews. Com. Jimmy kimmel is next. Have a great weekend. Up next on Jimmy Kimmel Live when the food comes out on thanksgiving, i eat like the cookie monster. I dont eat. I just grab the hafood with my hands and smash it all over my face. Tim allen. We had an aunt that would come to the kids table and say, you know, your uncle george . Never touches me. Manny pacquiao. And unnecessary censorship