1 00:00:03,603 --> 00:00:09,509 JOHN YANG: Tonight on PBS News Weekend. As# the pause in fighting in Gaza takes hold,## 2 00:00:09,509 --> 00:00:12,712 Israel awaits the return of# their hostages and thousands## 3 00:00:12,712 --> 00:00:15,915 of Palestinians return to# the ruins of their homes. 4 00:00:15,915 --> 00:00:20,954 Then, the latest progress and what's on# the horizon for preventing and treating## 5 00:00:20,954 --> 00:00:25,992 breast cancer. And in our weekend# spotlight, bestselling author Mitch## 6 00:00:25,992 --> 00:00:31,664 Albom talks about his latest book,# his writing process and giving back. 7 00:00:31,664 --> 00:00:34,868 MITCH ALBOM: I wanted to write a book that# showed that even if you had the ability,## 8 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:39,906 the magical ability to go back in time and# change it, you might find a whole new set of## 9 00:00:39,906 --> 00:00:49,049 problems and you might find that you miss what# you learned from what you thought was a mistake. 10 00:00:49,049 --> 00:02:11,364 (BREAK) 11 00:02:12,799 --> 00:02:17,504 JOHN YANG: Good evening. I'm John Yang.# It's day 11 of the government shutdown## 12 00:02:17,504 --> 00:02:21,741 and there are still no signs of efforts# to end the congressional stalemate that's## 13 00:02:21,741 --> 00:02:25,912 blocking federal funding. President Trump# says he's directed the Defense Department## 14 00:02:25,912 --> 00:02:31,851 to use all available funds to make sure# U.S. troops are paid on time on Wednesday. 15 00:02:31,851 --> 00:02:36,222 Tomorrow, the Smithsonian museums and# the National Zoo will close as they run## 16 00:02:36,222 --> 00:02:39,926 out of the unspent prior year funds# they've been using to keep the doors## 17 00:02:39,926 --> 00:02:44,464 open. The president's trying to increase# pressure on Democrats, saying he'll pick## 18 00:02:44,464 --> 00:02:50,803 and choose which furloughed workers get back# pay and slash programs Democrats care about. 19 00:02:50,803 --> 00:02:56,809 The administration is also moving ahead with plans# for mass firings. On Friday, federal workers began## 20 00:02:56,809 --> 00:03:02,549 receiving notices telling them that they'll be# laid off in 60 days. The administration says that## 21 00:03:02,549 --> 00:03:09,589 more than 4,100 workers will be fired across seven# agencies, the moves being challenged in court. 22 00:03:09,589 --> 00:03:14,327 Authorities say there are no survivors from# a blast that leveled an explosives plant in## 23 00:03:14,327 --> 00:03:19,832 Tennessee, Friday. They say it's not clear yet# how many people died, though earlier they said## 24 00:03:19,832 --> 00:03:26,573 18 people were missing. Actress and producer# Diane Keaton has died. PBS News has confirmed. 25 00:03:26,573 --> 00:03:31,211 Over her long career, she won acclaim for# roles in films as varied as "The Godfather"## 26 00:03:31,211 --> 00:03:37,517 and "Annie Hall," for which she won an# Academy award. Keaton was 79 years old. 27 00:03:37,517 --> 00:03:41,054 In the Middle East, there's relief# in both Israel and Gaza as the pause## 28 00:03:41,054 --> 00:03:45,291 in fighting appears to be holding# in Tel Aviv. Hagai Angrest eagerly## 29 00:03:45,291 --> 00:03:49,262 anticipates the return of his son,# kidnapped soldier Matan Angrest. 30 00:03:49,262 --> 00:03:51,998 HAGAI ANGREST, Father Of Hostage# Matan Angrest: We are very excited## 31 00:03:51,998 --> 00:03:58,972 waiting for our son and for all the# 48 hostages. Want to thank to -- many## 32 00:03:58,972 --> 00:04:08,948 thanks for President Trump. He did it# and all the American teams in Gaza. 33 00:04:08,948 --> 00:04:12,485 JOHN YANG: Palestinians stream# north on foot toward Gaza City.## 34 00:04:12,485 --> 00:04:17,290 Their relief is tempered by the# magnitude of the destruction. 35 00:04:17,290 --> 00:04:19,993 AHMED AL-JABARI, Displaced Palestinian (through# translator: I'm happy that there is no blood,## 36 00:04:19,993 --> 00:04:25,765 no killing. People can sleep in calm and are# reassured. Now when the war is over, where will we## 37 00:04:25,765 --> 00:04:33,273 go? I am displaced in a government area building,# but we have to move from there. Where will we go? 38 00:04:33,273 --> 00:04:36,242 JOHN YANG: As Israeli forces pull back in Gaza,## 39 00:04:36,242 --> 00:04:40,847 relief organizations prepare to# move in with desperately needed aid. 40 00:04:40,847 --> 00:04:45,351 Before the cease fire took hold, foreign# affairs correspondent Nick Schifrin spoke## 41 00:04:45,351 --> 00:04:51,424 with Antoine Renard, the World Food Programme's# director for the Palestinian territories. 42 00:04:51,424 --> 00:04:54,160 NICK SCHIFRIN: We have seen# over the last two years,## 43 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,398 since the October 7th terrorist# attack, enormous suffering in## 44 00:04:58,398 --> 00:05:04,971 Gaza. From your perspective, how bad is the# suffering today compared to in the past? 45 00:05:04,971 --> 00:05:08,174 ANTOINE RENARD, World Food Programme:# Today in Gaza city you have 400,000## 46 00:05:08,174 --> 00:05:14,781 people that are being cut off from the# rest of the Gaza Strip. We went with our## 47 00:05:14,781 --> 00:05:21,854 team actually to also ensure what were# the conditions out there on 22 August.## 48 00:05:21,854 --> 00:05:27,026 The famine conditions were actually# confirmed in the area of Gaza City. 49 00:05:27,026 --> 00:05:30,330 And what we've managed to do over# the last month is actually to bring## 50 00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:35,435 more volume of assistance into Gaza and# the Gaza Strip. You have on an average,## 51 00:05:35,435 --> 00:05:40,573 you know, now two meals per day, while it# used to be one meal per day just, you know,## 52 00:05:41,107 --> 00:05:47,513 two months ago. But yet what was the area# that was most at risk? You have 400,000## 53 00:05:47,513 --> 00:05:52,385 people that are being trapped and there's# no more assistance that is reaching them. 54 00:05:52,385 --> 00:05:56,489 NICK SCHIFRIN: So explain that shift over# the last month. How many more trucks are## 55 00:05:56,489 --> 00:06:00,793 being allowed in and are they reaching# the people who needed the aid the most? 56 00:06:00,793 --> 00:06:05,832 ANTOINE RENARD: The World Food Programme has been# working actually since end of July is to have at## 57 00:06:05,832 --> 00:06:11,838 least on an average 100 trucks at minimum per# day. Out of all the trucks that I've managed to## 58 00:06:11,838 --> 00:06:18,244 enter into Gaza over the last few weeks, WFP has# been doing practically a third of all of those. 59 00:06:18,244 --> 00:06:25,118 What we've managed to bring is more than 55,000# metric tons of food over the last two months.## 60 00:06:25,118 --> 00:06:30,089 To give you a reality of what it is, it's# a third of just the staple food that people## 61 00:06:30,089 --> 00:06:35,528 require in Gaza. But that is not enough# because you need also to have the proper## 62 00:06:35,528 --> 00:06:41,100 fresh food that is out here. People are not# just relying on canned food and wheat flour.## 63 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:46,873 They require to have proper access to fruits,# to vegetables, to meats, to dairy products. 64 00:06:46,873 --> 00:06:52,245 So the reality is that we managed to bring a# bit more, but at the same time it is not enough.## 65 00:06:52,245 --> 00:06:59,185 In north Gaza, clearly the conditions,# famine conditions are still are out there.## 66 00:06:59,185 --> 00:07:05,758 Since 12 September, we did not manage# to actually bring the food as were in## 67 00:07:05,758 --> 00:07:12,799 the recent weeks. In central and south of Gaza,# you actually have more goods that are coming in. 68 00:07:12,799 --> 00:07:18,004 The problem that you have is that those that were# recently displaced, how are they going to afford## 69 00:07:18,004 --> 00:07:25,111 it just to go from Gaza City all the way down?# Some people actually have to borrow sometime## 70 00:07:25,111 --> 00:07:32,151 up to $1,000. You might have more food on the# market, you might have more capacity for people## 71 00:07:32,151 --> 00:07:39,192 to get the food there, but they can't afford it.# And that is the biggest challenge that we have. 72 00:07:39,192 --> 00:07:43,930 NICK SCHIFRIN: Can you give us a little bit more# detail on the people of Gaza City? Obviously,## 73 00:07:43,930 --> 00:07:48,401 we have been seeing images of people# who are struggling with malnutrition,## 74 00:07:48,401 --> 00:07:52,805 children who health authorities# say have died from famine,## 75 00:07:52,805 --> 00:07:57,743 from hunger. How does it compare# today to what you've seen in the past? 76 00:07:57,743 --> 00:08:02,982 ANTOINE RENARD: I mean, I was in Gaza at# the end of July and beginning of August,## 77 00:08:03,583 --> 00:08:09,021 I went again to Gaza City meeting the# same families. They see the children## 78 00:08:09,021 --> 00:08:13,192 which actually don't want to be waked up# because they actually don't even know if## 79 00:08:13,192 --> 00:08:17,263 they're going to have a proper meal on a# daily basis. That's what you're telling me. 80 00:08:17,263 --> 00:08:22,568 And they feel such a deja vu of these things# that have happened again and again. That's## 81 00:08:22,568 --> 00:08:29,041 why more than ever in Gaza City, we require the# assistance to reach the population and at scale. 82 00:08:29,041 --> 00:08:31,744 NICK SCHIFRIN: The people who# have gone down to Deir al Balah,## 83 00:08:31,744 --> 00:08:36,382 gone down to the south. How great are# the needs of the recently displaced## 84 00:08:36,382 --> 00:08:41,087 who have left Gaza City and how# much are you able to get to them? 85 00:08:41,087 --> 00:08:46,092 ANTOINE RENARD: Well, one of the challenges that# you have every time that you are being displaced## 86 00:08:46,092 --> 00:08:52,064 is that you lose assets. You need potentially# to again find a tent, if there is any tent on## 87 00:08:52,064 --> 00:08:59,205 the market, many of them actually worth more# than $1,200 just to find a simple shelter,## 88 00:08:59,205 --> 00:09:05,611 where to go, you need again to see where is the# queue for any of the hot meals that are out there,## 89 00:09:05,611 --> 00:09:12,385 where is the access to the water, where is the# medical area? So all of these people, again,## 90 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:16,322 are struggling just to find the basics. NICK SCHIFRIN: And on the flip side,## 91 00:09:16,322 --> 00:09:19,025 are you ready to surge humanitarian assistance? 92 00:09:19,025 --> 00:09:22,395 ANTOINE RENARD: The reality is that# we have all the food, being in Egypt,## 93 00:09:22,395 --> 00:09:27,934 being in Israel, being in Jordan, and we have all# the teams that are on the ground. As we speak,## 94 00:09:27,934 --> 00:09:33,372 we have more than 100 staff that are# actively reinstating bread in many areas,## 95 00:09:33,372 --> 00:09:39,045 reinstating nutrition, because people deserve# to actually have the bare minimum. We have## 96 00:09:39,045 --> 00:09:43,649 food out there for the next three months.# We are ready and we will make it happen. 97 00:09:43,649 --> 00:09:46,385 NICK SCHIFRIN: Antoine# Renard, thank you very much. 98 00:09:46,385 --> 00:09:48,621 ANTOINE RENARD: Thanks to you. 99 00:09:48,621 --> 00:09:52,725 JOHN YANG: Still to come on PBS News Weekend,# the latest progress in the fight against## 100 00:09:52,725 --> 00:10:04,637 breast cancer and our weekend spotlight# on author and humanitarian Mitch Albom. 101 00:10:04,637 --> 00:10:13,245 (BREAK) 102 00:10:15,247 --> 00:10:19,518 JOHN YANG: Every October for the past# 40 years, pink ribbons have sprouted as## 103 00:10:19,518 --> 00:10:24,223 the symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.# It's a good time to take stock of the latest## 104 00:10:24,223 --> 00:10:30,329 in breast cancer research and the experience of# patients. Ali Rogin spoke with Dr. Arif Kamal,## 105 00:10:30,329 --> 00:10:35,267 the American Cancer Society's chief patient# officer and a Duke University Medical School## 106 00:10:35,267 --> 00:10:39,505 professor and Kristen Dahlgren,# a former NBC News correspondent## 107 00:10:39,505 --> 00:10:44,477 who's a breast cancer survivor and the# founder of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition. 108 00:10:44,477 --> 00:10:49,582 ALI ROGIN: Thank you both so much for joining# me. Arif, I'd like to start with you. We have,## 109 00:10:49,582 --> 00:10:54,320 as a country been commemorating Breast# Cancer awareness month for 40 years now.## 110 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,424 What are some of the major milestones you# see that we've achieved over that time? 111 00:10:58,424 --> 00:10:59,191 ARIF KAMAL, Chief Patient Officer,# American Cancer Society: Yeah, 40 years## 112 00:10:59,191 --> 00:11:03,129 is pretty remarkable as we think .. 113 00:11:03,129 --> 00:11:06,732 really center around the number 40, actually,# for a lot of the great accomplishments. Breast## 114 00:11:06,732 --> 00:11:11,203 cancer mortality has reduced by over# 40 percent over that period of time. 115 00:11:11,203 --> 00:11:16,542 In addition, we've now reduced the age of which# we recommend starting mammograms now down to the## 116 00:11:16,542 --> 00:11:21,447 age of 40. In addition, we're starting to see# other areas of disparities and gaps closing## 117 00:11:21,447 --> 00:11:26,252 as well. Mammogram rates, for example, are at# all-time highs across multiple communities. Now,## 118 00:11:26,252 --> 00:11:30,956 we still got some room to grow, but a lot has# happened over, you know, a couple decades of time. 119 00:11:30,956 --> 00:11:32,725 ALI ROGIN: And to that point,# Arif, sticking with you,## 120 00:11:32,725 --> 00:11:35,361 where do some of the main challenges still remain? 121 00:11:35,361 --> 00:11:38,798 ARIF KAMAL: You know, again, I'll stick to the# number 40 here for a minute. So black women,## 122 00:11:38,798 --> 00:11:43,035 for example, are 40 percent more likely# to die of breast cancer when matched## 123 00:11:43,035 --> 00:11:46,472 stage for stage with white women.# In addition, we're starting to see,## 124 00:11:46,472 --> 00:11:50,943 you know, some areas and pockets of# mammogram low rates across the country. 125 00:11:50,943 --> 00:11:53,446 In addition, we're starting to# see some of the experience be## 126 00:11:53,446 --> 00:11:55,915 varying across different populations. For example,## 127 00:11:55,915 --> 00:11:59,852 some data from the American Cancer Society# looked at loneliness and social isolation,## 128 00:11:59,852 --> 00:12:04,390 and we found that breast cancer survivors# only reported about 40 percent of them having## 129 00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:09,762 adequate social support during the course of their# cancer treatment. So we've got some work to go. 130 00:12:09,762 --> 00:12:13,599 ALI ROGIN: Kristen, you come at this from# so many interesting places yourself. You## 131 00:12:13,599 --> 00:12:18,070 were diagnosed with stage two breast# cancer in 2019, and following that,## 132 00:12:18,070 --> 00:12:24,076 you've committed your work to pursuing a# vaccine for breast cancer. What inspired## 133 00:12:24,076 --> 00:12:28,748 you to make this more than just your# own personal breast cancer journey? 134 00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:30,649 KRISTEN DAHLGREN, Founder, Cancer Vaccine# Coalition: I was a network correspondent## 135 00:12:30,649 --> 00:12:34,887 and I was 47 when I was diagnosed.# You know, I went through my treatment,## 136 00:12:34,887 --> 00:12:42,328 but it wasn't easy. And as soon as I learned as# part of my reporting that there were breast and## 137 00:12:42,328 --> 00:12:48,801 other cancer vaccines in development, I was# blown away. And I didn't believe it at first. 138 00:12:48,801 --> 00:12:54,306 Once I learned that these are not just# pie in the sky down the road treatments,## 139 00:12:54,306 --> 00:12:59,612 they actually are included clinical trials# and seeing incredible results, I had to do## 140 00:12:59,612 --> 00:13:05,751 something about it. So I decided to put together a# coalition of top doctors from around the country. 141 00:13:05,751 --> 00:13:10,156 We're bringing them together for some# collaborations. These research trials## 142 00:13:10,156 --> 00:13:14,960 take a lot of funding, so we're raising# money to help accelerate the process and## 143 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:19,031 then we're out there talking about it# so that people know what's available. 144 00:13:19,031 --> 00:13:24,570 We don't have to do these treatments, you# know, that are were developed in the 1800s## 145 00:13:24,570 --> 00:13:30,075 and in the mid-century. And, you know, there# really is this future down the road and it## 146 00:13:30,075 --> 00:13:36,882 could be closer if we get behind this idea that# our immune systems really can fight off cancer. 147 00:13:36,882 --> 00:13:39,518 ALI ROGIN: And speaking of that# research, Kristen, sticking with you,## 148 00:13:39,518 --> 00:13:45,291 how has that research, if at all been affected# by some of the cuts we're seeing from HHS,## 149 00:13:45,291 --> 00:13:49,662 particularly when it comes to things# like MRNA platforms for vaccines? 150 00:13:49,662 --> 00:13:53,999 KRISTEN DAHLGREN: Right. So, you know,# the head of NIH went on TV and said,## 151 00:13:53,999 --> 00:13:59,839 our concerns and what we're doing in the# MRNA space, cutting research does not## 152 00:13:59,839 --> 00:14:05,110 apply to cancer vaccines. Those are really# promising. We need to pursue that research. 153 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:11,183 Cancer is nonpartisan. It doesn't care which# way you vote. It impacts all of us. And so## 154 00:14:11,183 --> 00:14:16,722 while there have been funding cuts, I think if# the government gets better behind this type of## 155 00:14:16,722 --> 00:14:21,760 forward thinking in modern medicine,# we really could change things. And## 156 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:27,766 so it's something that I'm really passionate# about, encouraging our government to do more## 157 00:14:27,766 --> 00:14:33,372 and more research in this space because it# could be world changing for so many of us. 158 00:14:33,372 --> 00:14:39,278 ALI ROGIN: And you both are thinking a lot and# doing a lot to address the patient experience.## 159 00:14:39,278 --> 00:14:44,650 So what would your message be to somebody who# has breast cancer on the mind right now? Either## 160 00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:50,055 because they're going through a diagnosis or they# are facing screening. Arif, let's start with you. 161 00:14:50,055 --> 00:14:53,425 ARIF KAMAL: The reality is today, many# people, even with advanced disease,## 162 00:14:53,425 --> 00:14:58,464 don't require or need chemotherapy that# makes them lose their hair or stay in bed## 163 00:14:58,464 --> 00:15:01,834 for long periods of time. Oftentimes# now, the average person with cancer## 164 00:15:01,834 --> 00:15:06,472 is someone who may be next to you on# a train or maybe with you at work. 165 00:15:06,472 --> 00:15:10,075 As cancer becomes an experience for# many people that lasts now, you know,## 166 00:15:10,075 --> 00:15:15,681 over months and potentially even years, means we# have to continue to reform the oncology delivery## 167 00:15:15,681 --> 00:15:20,552 community to think about these journeys now# being measured over marathons instead of sprints. 168 00:15:20,552 --> 00:15:21,754 ALI ROGIN: Kristen? 169 00:15:21,754 --> 00:15:25,824 KRISTEN DAHLGREN: Yeah, I like that because# this is, y.. 170 00:15:25,824 --> 00:15:31,597 these long lives ahead after a cancer# diagnosis. I know for me, I'm aware of## 171 00:15:31,597 --> 00:15:40,172 cancer every day and I think we need to look at# it year round as something that we're aware of. 172 00:15:40,172 --> 00:15:45,911 For me as a patient, I worry about recurrence and# it's why you know, getting additional treatments,## 173 00:15:45,911 --> 00:15:50,783 more interventions that could prevent# recurrence is so important. I also found## 174 00:15:50,783 --> 00:15:57,589 my own breast cancer. I had a mammogram in# May of 2019 and just four months later I## 175 00:15:57,589 --> 00:16:02,561 saw a dent in my breast and I insisted on more# screening. It turned out I had dense breasts. 176 00:16:02,561 --> 00:16:07,833 I didn't understand what that meant and that# I could have gotten more screening after that## 177 00:16:07,833 --> 00:16:14,006 initial mammogram because that if we can do# earlier detection and better screening and## 178 00:16:14,006 --> 00:16:21,280 then we can have more interventions and things# that make a better outcome as far as treatments,## 179 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:27,820 we really could get this disease even more under# control than we have over the past 40 years. 180 00:16:27,820 --> 00:16:31,023 ALI ROGIN: Such important messages.# Dr. Arif Kamal and Kristin Dahlgren,## 181 00:16:31,023 --> 00:16:33,025 thank you so much. KRISTEN DAHLGREN: You bet. 182 00:16:33,025 --> 00:16:34,360 ARIF KAMAL: Thank you. 183 00:16:42,468 --> 00:16:47,439 JOHN YANG: Finally tonight, a sports writer# turned author turned benefactor who puts love## 184 00:16:47,439 --> 00:16:54,279 and hope at the center of nearly everything# he does in our weekend spotlight, Mitch Albom. 185 00:16:54,279 --> 00:16:57,349 MITCH ALBOM, Author, "Twice": This is# the big that Hudson New Hudson building. 186 00:16:57,349 --> 00:16:58,650 JOHN YANG (voice-over): Spending the day with## 187 00:16:58,650 --> 00:17:02,621 Mitch Albom in Detroit is# not a leisurely experience. 188 00:17:02,621 --> 00:17:04,456 MITCH ALBOM: We try to keep everything happy. 189 00:17:04,456 --> 00:17:06,158 JOHN YANG (voice-over): At# Detroit Water Ice Factory,## 190 00:17:06,158 --> 00:17:10,396 the nonprofit dessert store he started# to help fund his humanitarian work,## 191 00:17:10,396 --> 00:17:19,271 he whips up a Motown twist with his namesake# Mr. Mitch's chocolate peanut butter. 192 00:17:19,271 --> 00:17:23,909 Then a stop at say, Detroit Play,# a one-time abandoned city rec## 193 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:27,913 center that Albom transformed into a# multimillion dollar learning center## 194 00:17:27,913 --> 00:17:33,352 for hundreds of school students# where academics come before play. 195 00:17:33,352 --> 00:17:37,923 MITCH ALBOM: We're not going to build something# that's good enough for a poor neighborhood in## 196 00:17:37,923 --> 00:17:41,827 Detroit. We're going to build something that's# good enough for the best neighborhood in all of## 197 00:17:41,827 --> 00:17:47,132 Michigan. If you deliver high expectations, you'll# get high performances. If you come in with low## 198 00:17:47,132 --> 00:17:50,636 expectations, oh, this is good enough. That's# exactly the performances you're going to get. 199 00:17:50,636 --> 00:17:54,406 And all I did was kind of, you know,# kind of get it going, you know,## 200 00:17:54,406 --> 00:18:07,319 but they take the ball and run with it and# it's, you can see it's a lot of joy there. 201 00:18:07,319 --> 00:18:10,155 JOHN YANG (voice-over): While there, the# one-time professional musician shows us## 202 00:18:10,155 --> 00:18:17,930 his talents on the piano. He's never had a lesson. 203 00:18:17,930 --> 00:18:21,900 MITCH ALBOM: Got to know your Flintstones. 204 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,703 JOHN YANG (voice-over): In between stops,# he takes a call from the orphanage he's## 205 00:18:24,703 --> 00:18:28,874 run in Haiti since after the# devastating 2010 earthquake. 206 00:18:28,874 --> 00:18:33,011 MITCH ALBOM: This is actually# my second time around in life. 207 00:18:33,011 --> 00:18:36,782 JOHN YANG: All of that is before or# two hours behind a microphone for his## 208 00:18:36,782 --> 00:18:40,319 long running daily afternoon# radio show on Detroit station## 209 00:18:40,319 --> 00:18:45,757 WJR. And after the three hours every# morning that he devotes to writing. 210 00:18:45,757 --> 00:18:52,731 Albom's books have sold 42 million copies. His# latest, a novel entitled "Twice," was published## 211 00:18:52,731 --> 00:18:58,637 this week. It's about a boy who can go into the# past in order to have a second chance at things,## 212 00:18:58,637 --> 00:19:04,243 except when it comes to love. So your protagonist,# Alfie Logan from Philadelphia, you're a Philly## 213 00:19:04,243 --> 00:19:09,581 boy. You started out as a musician, turned# to writing. Are there other similarities? 214 00:19:09,581 --> 00:19:15,053 MITCH ALBOM: Yes. Most of Alfie's screw ups# with girls were based on personal experience.## 215 00:19:16,221 --> 00:19:19,591 And Alfie has the power to# go back in time, redo things. 216 00:19:19,591 --> 00:19:23,595 MITCH ALBOM: So there's a scene in# the book where he goes up to this## 217 00:19:23,595 --> 00:19:28,467 cute blonde girl who he kind of has a crush# on, and he starts talking with his hands and## 218 00:19:28,467 --> 00:19:32,638 hits a glass of milk and knocks it into# her lap. And she looks up with that, oh,## 219 00:19:32,638 --> 00:19:39,344 my God. And he just says, look at that, and walks# away. And that is exactly what happened to me. 220 00:19:39,344 --> 00:19:45,684 If you want to write about a teenager with# embarrassing moments in his romantic life and## 221 00:19:45,684 --> 00:19:51,123 you already have them in your own life, why not# use them? Why make up something else if they work? 222 00:19:51,123 --> 00:19:53,192 JOHN YANG: Tell us how he discovers he's got this. 223 00:19:53,192 --> 00:19:58,730 MITCH ALBOM: Yeah, they're living in Africa. And# he is supposed to sit with his mother, who's sick,## 224 00:19:58,730 --> 00:20:04,303 and she's in one of those mosquito netting beds.# And he goes and sees that she's sleeping and his## 225 00:20:04,303 --> 00:20:07,906 father's out, and he says, well, she's sleeping.# I'll just go out and play. And he realizes his## 226 00:20:07,906 --> 00:20:13,845 mother died while he was out. And he's so upset# by this that when he wakes up the next morning,## 227 00:20:13,845 --> 00:20:18,884 it's the day before, and his father says, go sit# with your mother. And he goes, what do you mean,## 228 00:20:18,884 --> 00:20:23,822 go sit with your mother? And he walks in and# she's there again, and it's replaying all over. 229 00:20:23,822 --> 00:20:31,930 But it was a very poignant scene for me because# my mother had a stroke and then a series of## 230 00:20:31,930 --> 00:20:37,970 strokes that robbed her of the ability to speak# for the last several years of her life. And## 231 00:20:38,804 --> 00:20:43,275 so I never had that last conversation with her# because I didn't know the stroke was coming. 232 00:20:43,275 --> 00:20:50,649 And then I had gone out to see her and# I flew back home. And when I landed,## 233 00:20:50,649 --> 00:20:57,422 I got a phone call that she had died while# I was in the air. And there's a line in the## 234 00:20:57,422 --> 00:21:03,595 book that says Alfie, who was running# around with a cape, a Superman cape on,## 235 00:21:04,129 --> 00:21:11,503 just jumping up and down. And he says, my mother# died while I was trying to fly. And I don't think## 236 00:21:11,503 --> 00:21:16,708 most people will know him, maybe I'm telling# you, but my mother died while I was flying. 237 00:21:16,708 --> 00:21:24,983 And so, yeah, that scene kind of choked me up a# little bit. Set the stage for the book, though. 238 00:21:24,983 --> 00:21:29,187 JOHN YANG (voice-over): It was as a Detroit# Free Press sports columnist in the 1980s that## 239 00:21:29,187 --> 00:21:34,393 Albom first gained prominence.# His 1997 worldwide bestseller,## 240 00:21:34,393 --> 00:21:39,598 "Tuesdays with Morrie," brought broader# recognition. An account of his weekly visits## 241 00:21:39,598 --> 00:21:45,837 with a beloved former professor who was dying.# It's one of the bestselling memoirs of all time. 242 00:21:45,837 --> 00:21:49,274 MITCH ALBOM: I just start with what I want# to write about and then I create a story## 243 00:21:49,274 --> 00:21:53,612 around it. So, for example, the five people you# meet in heaven, people have always thought, oh,## 244 00:21:53,612 --> 00:21:56,715 you want to write about heaven after# Morrie. And that wasn't really true.## 245 00:21:56,715 --> 00:22:00,952 I wanted to write a story about# people who think they don't matter. 246 00:22:00,952 --> 00:22:05,757 So I kind of picked themes before I start.# And theme for this one was the "Grass is## 247 00:22:05,757 --> 00:22:09,761 Always Greener." And I wanted to write a book# that showed that even if you had the ability,## 248 00:22:09,761 --> 00:22:15,967 the magical ability to go back in time and change# it, you might find a whole new set of problems,## 249 00:22:15,967 --> 00:22:21,340 and you might find that you miss what you# learned from what you thought was a mistake. 250 00:22:21,340 --> 00:22:23,342 JOHN YANG (voice-over):# While not all love stories,## 251 00:22:23,342 --> 00:22:27,679 many of Albom's books have lessons# about love, hope, and optimism. 252 00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:31,450 JOHN YANG: So many of my friends I# told I was coming to do this said,## 253 00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:36,321 what they love about your books is the sense of# hope and optimism that runs through all of them. 254 00:22:36,321 --> 00:22:36,855 MITCH ALBOM: Yeah. 255 00:22:36,855 --> 00:22:40,125 JOHN YANG: In Americ.. 256 00:22:40,892 --> 00:22:46,231 so much -- so many troubles, is it# hard to keep that hope and optimism? 257 00:22:46,231 --> 00:22:50,469 MITCH ALBOM: No, I actually find it's more# necessary and it's somewhat easier because## 258 00:22:50,469 --> 00:22:56,174 it's almost a counter to what's going on. I# think that everybody wants hope and everybody## 259 00:22:56,174 --> 00:23:01,680 wants inspiration. When people take out their# wallets, they pull out a picture of their## 260 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:06,385 grandson or their child or whatever. They don't# pull out a picture of their woe or their misery## 261 00:23:06,385 --> 00:23:13,425 or how awful life is. Here, let me show you how# awful, how dark life is. They aspire to hope. 262 00:23:13,425 --> 00:23:17,429 JOHN YANG (voice-over): Since 2010, Albom has# been giving hope to hundreds of impoverished## 263 00:23:17,429 --> 00:23:22,868 orphans in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He and# an army of volunteers rebuilt an orphanage## 264 00:23:22,868 --> 00:23:27,506 heavily damaged by the earthquake.# He spends a week there every month. 265 00:23:27,506 --> 00:23:31,042 MITCH ALBOM: I did not know what I was# doing. I'll admit that at the beginning,## 266 00:23:31,042 --> 00:23:36,081 I didn't have children of my own. I# didn't even know diaper changing or## 267 00:23:36,081 --> 00:23:40,786 a lot of that stuff. But I learned it.# And the kids are the absolute joys of## 268 00:23:40,786 --> 00:23:46,291 our lives and the purpose for myself and my# wife. I'm sure that were put on this earth. 269 00:23:46,291 --> 00:23:51,363 JOHN YANG (voice-over): Albom and his wife# of 30 years, Jeanine, became parents to two## 270 00:23:51,363 --> 00:23:58,136 children from Haiti. Just one instance when# he says he's been given a second chance. 271 00:23:58,136 --> 00:24:05,744 MITCH ALBOM: So there's more to this than just# a love story in a novel. I have come to realize## 272 00:24:05,744 --> 00:24:14,252 that my life has been the embodiment of second# chances. If you look at it from 30,000 feet,## 273 00:24:14,252 --> 00:24:19,357 you know, I was a musician, and# I thought, that's all I want to## 274 00:24:19,357 --> 00:24:25,197 do. And I failed at it. And I kind of took up# writing because there was nothing else to do. 275 00:24:25,197 --> 00:24:31,670 But look at what writing has given me. We don't# have children. We get married late. Doesn't happen## 276 00:24:31,670 --> 00:24:36,641 for us. We figure out we're not going to -- we're# going to be a couple that doesn't have children.## 277 00:24:36,641 --> 00:24:41,913 And then this little. Then an orphanage comes into# our lives. And then this little girl named Chica## 278 00:24:41,913 --> 00:24:46,251 needs our help because she has a brain tumor, and# she becomes our daughter for two years. And then## 279 00:24:46,251 --> 00:24:53,124 we lose her. And we figure, oh, my goodness, you# know, that was our chance. That was our child. 280 00:24:53,124 --> 00:24:58,630 And then a few years ago, a little girl is# brought to us who weighs six pounds at six## 281 00:24:58,630 --> 00:25:02,634 months and has had nothing to eat but# sugar water. And I hold her in my hand,## 282 00:25:02,634 --> 00:25:11,109 and she fits in one hand and her eyes are closed# and she can't speak and she can barely move. We## 283 00:25:11,109 --> 00:25:15,780 don't think. We just say, well, we have to# save her life. She's our little girl. And## 284 00:25:17,115 --> 00:25:22,487 we have the second chance with another# beautiful little child full of life. 285 00:25:24,389 --> 00:25:31,663 What did I do to deserve all these second# chances? Who's watching over me that's saying,## 286 00:25:31,663 --> 00:25:38,136 you're on this way, but we're going to take you# this way. So this is kind of a celebration of## 287 00:25:39,371 --> 00:25:45,210 what life can be like if you understand# what went wrong with the first time## 288 00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:59,291 and you try to make it right the second# time. And I am a walking example of that. 289 00:25:59,291 --> 00:26:01,593 JOHN YANG: And that is PBS News Weekend for this## 290 00:26:01,593 --> 00:26:06,531 Saturday. I'm John Yang. Thanks# for joining us. See you tomorrow.