>>> TONIGHT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SPEAKING OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT MR. TRUMP RAILING AGAINST THE SPECIAL COUNSEL AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR HIS DEFENSE. WHAT HE TOLD OUR REPORTER TODAY ABOUT THE CHARGES. >> IT'S A DISGRACE SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. >> PLUS, NEW INSIGHTS INTO JUST HOW STRONG THE CASE AGAINST HIM IS >>> NEW IMAGES TONIGHT. AMERICAN FIGHTING VEHICLES NOW ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN UKRAINE FOR THE FIRST TIMES AFTER HIS BOMBING SPREE SPREAD TERROR NATIONWIDE. >>> MIRACLE IN THE AMAZON FOUR CHILDREN SURVIVE A PLANE CRASH, THEN 40 DAYS IN THE COLOMBIAN JUNGLE THE DRAMATIC MOMENTS WHEN THEY WERE FINALLY FOUND >>> TWO FATHERS DROWN TRYING TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN WHILE SWIMMING AT BEACHES, REIGNITING SAFETY FEARS AMID A DANGEROUS NATIONWIDE LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE >>> FRIGHTENING SCENES IN LONDON WHY THREE ROYAL GUARDS COLLAPSED. >>> AND THERE'S GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. THE MOMENT THIS DAD LET HIS DAUGHTER KNOW SHE IS NOT ALONE. >>> THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH JOSE DIAZ-BALART. >>> GOOD EVENING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD NOT MADE AN APPEARANCE SINCE HE WAS INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES, BUT TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SPOKE OUT PUBLICLY MR. TRUMP MAKING CLEAR HE PLANS TO FIGHT, TO FIGHT IN COURT, AND TO FIGHT FOR THE PRESIDENCY HE IS FACING 37 COUNTS, ALL CONNECTED TO HIS HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS. TODAY, HE CALLED THE CHARGES A POLITICAL HIT JOB. AND HE DISMISSED MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE LAID OUT IN THAT 49-PAGE INDICTMENT, INCLUDING THESE PHOTOS, WHICH SHOW THE DOCUMENTS BEING STORED AT TRUMP'S PROPERTIES, EVERYWHERE FROM A BALLROOM TO A BATHROOM WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE STRENGTH OF THE CASE AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CONVICTION MOMENTARILY, BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH GARRETT HAAKE, WHO QUESTIONED THE FORMER PRESIDENT TODAY. >> Reporter: DONALD TRUMP TONIGHT UNLEASHING HIS FURY ON STAGE, SPEAKING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HE WAS INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES >> THIS VICIOUS PERSECUTION IS A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. >> Reporter: THE FORMER PRESIDENT LASHING OUT AT SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH >> DERANGED JACK SMITH. >> Reporter: AND WHAT HE CALLED POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION. >> THE RIDICULOUS AND BASELESS INDICTMENT OF ME BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S WEAPONIZED DEPARTMENT OF INJUSTICE WILL GO DOWN AS AMONG THE MOST HORRIFIC ABUSES OF POWER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY >> Reporter: THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER ALSO VOWED TO FIGHT BACK IN 2024 >> EVERY TIME I FLY OVER A BLUE STATE, I GET A SUBPOENA WE'RE GOING TO EVICT A TOTALLY CORRUPT PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE JOB THAT WE STARTED. >> Reporter: THE 37-COUNT FEDERAL INDICTMENT UNSEALED FRIDAY ACCUSES MR. TRUMP OF ILLEGALLY TAKING CLASSIFIED, NATIONAL SECURITY DOCUMENTS WITH HIM TO MAR-A-LAGO WHEN HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE. STORING THEM INSECURELY IN BOXES STASHED IN A BATHROOM AND ON A BALLROOM STAGE SOMETIMES SHOWING THEM OFF, THEN CONSPIRING WITH AN AIDE TO HIDE THEM FROM INVESTIGATORS. MR. PRESIDENT, WHY DID YOU HOLD ONTO ALL THOSE DOCUMENT US AT MAR-A-LAGO >> THE DOCUMENTS, WHOLE THING, IS A WITCH HUNT, IT'S A DISGRACE, SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IT'S HURTING OUR COUNTRY. >> Reporter: MUCH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CAUTIOUSLY RALLIED AROUND ITS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL FRONT-RUNNER >> I PROMISE YOU, WHEN I'M YOUR PRESIDENT, WE WILL END YEARS OF POLITICIZATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW. >> Reporter: THE LOW POLLING FORMER GOVERNORS AND FORMER PROSECUTORS CHRIS CHRISTIE AND ASA HUTCHINSON, NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS >> TO ME, THESE ARE SERIOUS CHARGES THAT MERIT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BY THE PUBLIC >> THE FACTS THAT ARE LAID OUT HERE ARE DAMNING IN TERMS OF DONALD TRUMP'S CONDUCT, AND THAT'S, I THINK, WE AS A PARTY, SHOULD BE LOOKING AT >> AND GARRETT JOINS US NOW FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE THE PRESIDENT GAVE HIS SPEECH GARRETT, MR. TRUMP IS TRYING TO USE THE INDICTMENT TO HIS ADVANTAGE. >> Reporter: JOSE, THE INDICTMENT'S NOW A KEY PART OF THE STUMP SPEECH AND MR. TRUMP'S FUND-RAISING APPEALS HIS CAMPAIGN HAS SENT A DELUGE OF EMAILS MENTIONING IT, AND THEY'RE PLANNING A LARGE FUND-RAISER TUESDAY NIGHT IN NEW JERSEY AFTER HIS ARRAIGNMENT IN MIAMI. JOSE >> GARRETT HAAKE IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, THANK YOU >>> MR. TRUMP MAKING HIS FEELINGS ON THE INDICTMENT CLEAR TODAY. THE QUESTION NOW IS, HOW WILL THE ALLEGATIONS PLAY IN COURT KEN DILANIAN HAS A CLOSER LOOK. >> Reporter: LEGAL EXPERTS ARE WEIGHING IN TONIGHT ON WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A DEVASTATING CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST THE NATION'S 45th PRESIDENT. EVEN LAWYERS WHO ONCE SUPPORTED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SAY THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING >> THE EVIDENCE IN THIS INDICTMENT IS VERY DAMNING FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> Reporter: REPUBLICAN JAY TOWN WAS APPOINTED IN 2017 BY MR. TRUMP TO BE ALABAMA'S TOP FEDERAL PROSECUTOR >> IF THE PRESIDENT WAS DIRECTING PEOPLE TO LIE, DIRECTING PEOPLE OR HIMSELF MOVING INFORMATION AROUND THAT IS THE OBJECT OF THE GRAND JURY SUBPOENA AND DOJ'S INVESTIGATION, WELL, THAT'S OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. THAT IS A CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FALSE STATEMENTS AND THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW. >> Reporter: LAW PROFESSOR RYAN GOODMAN, A TRUMP CRITIC, HAS STUDIED ESPIONAGE ACT CASES. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLY STRONG INDICTMENTS THAT I'VE SEEN COMPARED TO ALL OTHER INDICTMENTS UNDER THE ESPIONAGE ACT FOR RETENTION OF MILITARY SECRETS IN THE PAST 20-PLUS YEARS. >> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY THE MOST COMPELLING EVIDENCE MIGHT BE TWO RECORDINGS. ONE BY A LAWYER HIRED TO HELP MR. TRUMP COMPLY WITH A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUBPOENA, QUOTING MR. TRUMP AS TELLING THE LA LAWYER, "WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER IF WE TELL THEM WE JUST TONIGHT HAVE ANYTHING HERE?" AND THE SECOND FEATURING MR. TRUMP HIMSELF, ACKNOWLEDGING HE POSSESSES SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT U.S. MILITARY PLANS. HOW POWERFUL IS A TAPE RECORDING OF DONALD TRUMP SAYING IN HIS OWN WORDS THAT HE HAS A CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT? >> IT'S EXTRAORDINARY. IT WILL BE SO COMPELLING TO JURORS >> Reporter: TOWN BELIEVES THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE CHARGED TRUMP WITH RETAINING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE HE SAYS IT RAISES AN UNCOMFORTABLE COMPARISON TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER SECRET MATERIAL FOUND IN HIS HOME AND OFFICE MULTIPLE SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT INVESTIGATION IS NOWHERE NEAR A COMPLETION, BUT HE SAYS, EVEN IF CONVICTED -- >> THESE OBSTRUCTION COUNTS, WHICH, AGAIN, ARE VERY COMPELLING IN THE INDICTMENT, AND IF TRUE, THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND THOSE SIX COUNTS >> Reporter: THOUGH PRISON TIME IS UNLIKELY, HE SAYS >> I DON'T THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SERVE A DAY IN PRISON HE IS ENTITLED TO SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, THE SECRET SERVICE CANNOT DELEGATE THAT TO THE BUREAU OF PRISONS. >> KEN JOINS US NOW OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE WHERE THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL BE ARRAIGNED ON TUESDAY. KEN, HOW ARE THEY PREPARING THERE FOR HIS ARRIVAL? >> Reporter: THERE ARE MAJOR SECURITY CONCERNS, JOSE THE FEDERAL MAGISTRATE WHO SIGNED THE MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH WARRANT LAST YEAR GOT DEATH THREATS. SO, FEDERAL MARSHALS AND LOCAL POLICE ARE GEARING UP TO PROTECT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MR. TRUMP'S SURRENDER AND ARRAIGNMENT ON TUESDAY. JOSE >> KEN DILANIAN IN MIAMI, THANK YOU. >>> AND NOW, TO UKRAINE, WHERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE SEEING AMERICAN-MADE ARMORED MILITARY VEHICLES ON UKRAINE'S BATTLEFIELD. IT COMES AS UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT CONFIRMS THEY'VE BEGUN THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST RUSSIA RAF SANCHEZ IS IN UKRAINE WITH THE LATEST >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AMERICAN-MADE BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES IN COMBAT FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PART OF UKRAINE'S LONG-AWAITED COUNTEROFFENSIVE THIS ONE TAKES A DIRECT HIT, BUT ITS ARMORED PLATING SHIELDS UKRAINIAN TROOPS INSIDE FROM THE WORST OF THE IMPACT. THE PRESENCE OF BRADLEYS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, ALONGSIDE GERMAN-MADE LEOPARD TANKS, A SIGN KYIV IS THROWING ITS MOST ADVANCED WESTERN WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT TO DRIVE OUT RUSSIAN FORCES STANDING ALONGSIDE CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TODAY GIVING HIS STRONGEST HINT YET THAT MAJOR OPERATIONS ARE UNDER WAY. "DEFENSIVE COUNTERATTACKS ARE TAKING PLACE IN UKRAINE. AT WHAT STAGE, I WILL NOT SAY IN DETAIL." IN THE CITY OF DNIPRO, WE MEET ANTON, A SOLDIER WHO HAS BEEN FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE EAST, AND WHO WAS BADLY WOUNDED IN A RUSSIAN MISSILE ATTACKS. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE WESTERN TANKS REACHING THE BATTLEFIELD. HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE ARE THEY MAKING? >> Translator: THIS IS MORE MANEUVERABLE EQUIPMENT. IT'S BETTER QUALITY. MORE ACCURATE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CLEAR THE ENEMY'S TREE LINES AND FORTIFICATIONS MUCH FASTER >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, IN ODESA, THREE CIVILIANS KILLED IN A RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK, ACCORDING TO UKRAINE'S MILITARY AND ON ODESA'S BEACHES, DEBRIS WASHING UP FROM THE CITY OF KHERSON, WHICH FLOODED THIS WEEK AFTER A MAJOR DAM WAS DESTROYED. THE EXPLOSION ALSO CUTTING WATER LEVELS NEAR UKRAINE'S LARGEST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. AUTHORITIES NOW SHUTTING DOWN ITS FINAL REACTOR, A PRECAUTION AGAINST OVERHEATING. >> AND RAF JOINS US NOW FROM NEAR THAT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN UKRAINE. RAF, HOW CONCERNED ARE PEOPLE WHERE ARE YOU? >> Reporter: YEAH, JOSE, PEOPLE HERE ALMOST LITERALLY IN THE SHADOW OF THE PLANT, AND THIS WEEK, THE CITY CARRIED OUT A NUCLEAR DISASTER EXERCISE THE U.N. SAYS THERE'S NO GN OF FEAR FINALLY OVER >> ARE YOU THE UNABOMBER? >> Reporter: TED KACZYNSKI PLEADED GUILTY IN 1998, SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON HE DIED AT 81 YEARS OLD. DANA GRIFFIN, NBC NEWS >>> STILL AHEAD TONIGHT, A MIRACLE IN THE JUNGLE, AFTER FOUR KIDS WERE FOUND ALIVE AFTER 40 DAYS LOST IN THE COLOMBIAN AMAZON >>> PLUS, A FRIGHTENING MOMENT IN THE UK, AFTER BRITISH TROOPS COLLAPSE DURING A MILITARY DRILL. >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A STUNNING TALE OF SURVIVAL IN COLOMBIA. FOUR CHILDREN, WHO WERE MISSING FOR 40 DAYS AFTER THEIR PLANE CRASHED IN THE AMAZON, HAVE BEEN FOUND ALIVE. MARISSA PARRA HAS THEIR AMAZING STORY. >> Reporter: EYES WIDE WITH FEAR, FOUR CHILDREN, ALL SIBLINGS, ARE PULLED ABOARD A HELICOPTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THEY ARE SAFE. RESCUED AFTER 40 HARROWING DAYS SURVIVING ALONE IN THE COLOMBIAN JUNGLE. THEIR JOURNEY STARTS MAY 1st. A PLANE CARRYING SEVEN PEOPLE DISAPPEARS FROM RADAR. THE BODIES OF THREE ADULTS, INCLUDING THEIR MOTHER, ARE FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE. BUT THE SMALLEST PASSENGERS, FOUR INDIGENOUS CHILDREN, THE OLDEST 13, THE YOUNGEST, JUST 11 MONTHS OLD, NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THE SEARCH BEGAN FOR WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS OPERATION HOPE. FOR WEEKS, THEY SEARCHED FOR SIGNS OF EXACTLY THAT. TOGETHER, COLOMBIAN MILITARY AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY LEADERS TOOK TO THE SKIES AND THE GROUND, SCOURING THE RAIN FOREST, THICK WITH UNDERBRUSH. FULL OF BUGS AND PREDATORS. LOST IN THE PROCESS, WILSON, A SEARCH DOG, PART OF THE RESCUE CREW, STILL MISSING TO THIS DAY. BUT FOUND SMALL SIGNS OF LIFE. A DIAPER, A BOTTLE, AND FOOTPRINTS. GALVANIZED, THE TEAMS CONTINUED BY NIGHT AND BY DAY. FROM A HELICOPTER LOUD SPEAKER, THE MILITARY PLAYED A RECORDING OF THEIR GRANDMOTHER, REASSURING THE CHILDREN, "STAY PUT, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU." AND ON JUNE 9th, AFTER 40 DAYS, THIS RESCUE. QUIET, SCARED, AND SHIVERING, THE SIBLINGS CLINGING TO THOSE AROUND THEM. A MOMENT MET WITH HUGS AND TEARS OF DISBELIEF FROM FAMILY BACK HOME. THEIR GRANDMOTHER, IN PAIN OVER LOSING HER DAUGHTER, SAYING, "I WANT TO HUG MY FOUR GRANDCHILDREN. I NEED THEM HERE." WITH THEIR FATHER AT THEIR SIDE, THEY ARRIVE ON THE TARMAC. GREETED BY THOSE WHO LED THE BRAVE OPERATION, CALLING THE CHILDREN THE BRAVEST ONES. SMALL TESTIMONIES TO THE POWER OF SURVIVAL AND HOPE. MARISSA PARRA, NBC NEWS. >> THE POWER OF HOPE. >>> WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH A WARNING FOR EVERYONE HEADING TO THE BEACHES THIS SUMMER, AFTER TWO FATHERS DIE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN. >>> PLUS, THERE'S GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. WHY ALL THESE STUDENTS GATHERED FOR ONE TEAC >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A SCARY MOMENT IN THE UK, AFTER AT LEAST THREE TROOPS FAINTED DURING A MILITARY PARADE. YOU CAN SEE THIS TROMBONE PLAYER COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND HE GOT UP, BUT YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER SOLDIER TAKEN OUT BY A STRETCHER BEHIND HIM IT HAPPENED AS TEMPERATURES SOARED TO ALMOST 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT PRINCE WILLIAM THANKED THE TROOPS, SAYING THEY DID A GOOD JOB, DESPITE THE HEAT. >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A WARNING FOR SWIMMERS TWO FATHERS RECENTLY DROWNED TRYING TO SAVE THEIR KIDS FROM DANGEROUS WATERS OFF SEPARATE BEACHES, AND IT'S RAISING FEARS ABOUT THE LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY JESSE KIRSCH HAS THE DETAILS. >> Reporter: WITH SUMMER JUST DAYS AWAY, TONIGHT, A REMINDER THAT GOING FOR A SWIM IS NOT RISK FREE, AFTER TWO FATHERS RECENTLY DIED TRYING TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, LAST WEEK, MARK BRYSON RACED TO HELP HIS SON AND OTHERS BATTLING A RIP CURRENT IN KNEE-DEEP WATER. EVERYONE MADE IT OUT ALIVE, EXCEPT BRYSON. >> MARK WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FRIENDS AND THE KIDS WERE SAFE, AND, YOU KNOW, AND HE MADE THAT HAPPEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE RIP TIDE WAS JUST TOO STRONG FOR HIM. >> Reporter: AND JUST YESTERDAY IN NEW JERSEY, OFFICIALS SAY A 39-YEAR-OLD MAN DROWNED WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE HIS 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER >> I STILL HAVE CHILLS RIGHT NOW. I JUST CAME UP TO THE BEACH TO SIT AND SAY A PRAYER >> EVEN A GOOD SWIMMER CAN HAVE A BAD DAY. >> Reporter: CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT DEPUTY CHIEF JASON LACH SAYS NOT EVERYONE OUT ON THE WATER ALWAYS HAS THE SURVIVAL SKILLS THEY SHOULD, AND HE ADDS, LIFEGUARDS ARE CRUCIAL ALLIES >> THEY'RE OUR FIRST EYES A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL MITIGATE THE SITUATION EVEN BEFORE WE SHOW UP ON SCENE. >> Reporter: AND TONIGHT, THOSE LIFESAVERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND >> WE'RE EXPERIENCING A CRITICAL LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE OVER 309,000 PARKS AND POOLS, HALF OF THEM ARE EITHER CLOSING OR REDUCING THEIR HOURS. >> Reporter: THE AMERICAN LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION SAYS SOME PLACES ARE OFFERING BONUSES TO ATTRACT WORKERS. THE ASSOCIATION ADDS, EVEN IF POOLS STAY SHUT DOWN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN PEOPLE WILL STAY OUT OF THE WATER >> PEOPLE STILL NEED TO COOL OFF AND THEY WILL GO TO AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NOT LIFEGUARDS >> Reporter: ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN IN THE WINDY CITY, SOME PARENTS AREN'T TAKING CHANCES. IF THERE'S NO LIFEGUARD -- >> YEAH. >> Reporter: ON DUTY, IS THAT A NONSTARTER FOR YOU AT THAT POINT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH FOR ME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A LIFEGUARD WATCHING MY KIDS >> Reporter: AND THE AMERICAN LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDING YOU MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR KIDS CAN SWIM, LEARN CPR, AND BE VIGILANT JOSE >> JESSE KIRSCH IN CHICAGO, THANK YOU. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THERE'S GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. WHAT THIS DAD DID TO DESERVE THAT HUG YOU NEED TO SEE THIS >>> THERE'S GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. SO MANY POWERFUL MOMENTS OF PEOPLE OVERCOMING THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES AND CELEBRATING THE ONES THEY LOVE. WE START WITH A SPECIAL SURPRISE. WHEN FIFTH GRADE TEACHER KAELIN SIEMENTELL ENTERED HER CLASSROOM, SHE HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL HER STUDENTS, PRESENT AND PAST, WERE THERE. BUT THEN, SHE SAW, AT THE END, HER BOYFRIEND, ADAM POWERS. >> I SAW ADAM, AND ALL OF MY STUDENTS FROM THE LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, IT WAS JUST CUTE. >> Reporter: WHO THEN ASKED HER TO MARRY HIM. SHE SAID YES. >> THE PLAN HAD TAKEN SO LONG TO COMPLETE. SO, JUST SEEING IT ALL COME TO FRUITION, IT WAS VERY EXCITING. >> Reporter: THERE WERE CHEERS, TOO, IN THIS FLORIDA CLASSROOM. THIS 5-YEAR-OLD, CASON, WHO MOVED AWAY IN FEBRUARY, SURPRISING HIS FORMER CLASSMATES. >> CASON, YOU'RE BACK! >> THIS IS SO CUTE! >> Reporter: IT TOOK DEANDRE THOMAS NEARLY TEN YEARS TO GROW OUT HIS DREADLOCKS. BUT HERE HE IS, SHAVING THEM OFF. THE REASON? HIS DAUGHTER, BRIELLE, IS BATTLING CANCER. >> CAN I TURN AROUND? >> Reporter: THIS IS THE MOMENT HE SURPRISED HER. AND THEN, HE SAYS -- >> YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL. >> Reporter: YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL. ON THIS PENNSYLVANIA FOOTBALL FIELD -- >> GAVIN'S RIGHT HERE. YOU WANT TO TALK TO HIM? >> I DO, PLEASE. >> Reporter: HIGH SCHOOL WIDE RECEIVER GAVIN PICARD HAD NO IDEA WHY HIS DOCTOR WAS ON THE PHONE FOR HIM. WE INTRODUCED YOU TO HIM IN NOVEMBER. THE 17-YEAR-OLD HAD JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA. WHEN THE TEAM HE WAS PLAYING AGAINST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, THEY DID THIS. >> OH, MY GOSH. >> Reporter: THAT'S GAVIN THERE, NUMBER 6 IN THE RED HOODIE. HIS RIVALS EMBRACING HIM AND HIGH-FIVING HIM, CHEERING HIM ON FOR HIS FIGHT AHEAD. >> IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE MY TEAM AND MY TEAM THAT I'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH FOR YEARS. >> Reporter: YEAH, THAT NIGHT WAS JUST REALLY SPECIAL FOR EVERYBODY. >> HEY, DOC. >> HI, GAVIN. >> Reporter: AND NOW, HERE'S GAVIN THIS WEEK, SURROUNDED BY HIS TEAMMATES, HIS DOCTOR ON THE PHONE. >> I WANTED TO CALL AND GIVE YOU SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS. >> OKAY. >> YOUR SCANS LOOK GREAT, YOUR CANCER IS GONE -- YOU'RE DONE. >> Reporter: PERHAPS THE BEST CALL EVER MADE ON THAT FIELD. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? >> TO HAVE MY TEAMMATES THERE, WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ME THROUGH EVERYTHING -- ON THE FIELD, OFF THE FIELD, IT WAS AWESOME. >> GAVIN PLANS TO BE BACK ON THE FIELD THIS FALL, AS TEAM CAPTAIN. THAT'S "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS SATURDAY. KATE SNOW WILL BE HERE TOMORROW NIGHT. I'M JOSE DIAZ-BALART REPORTING FROM NEW YORK. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR TIME. GOOD NIGHT.
