transcript: Reporter: Zach can't stop writing lyrics,
there are so many songs he wants to leave behind with only months to live. His song
called "Clouds" was born. ["Clouds"] Zach: Like every teenager out there feels invincible and they'll never admit it and
it's not the kind of invincible like Superman, it's the kind of invincible like "I'll see
you in five months." I thought I was invincible. I was ready for college pretty much and I
was planning out way ahead and yeah, turns out sometimes you can't do that.
Zach: My name is Zach Sobiech, I'm seventeen years old and I have osteosarcoma. I've been
told I have a few months to live but I still have a lot of work to do.
I want everyone to know, you don't have to find out you're
dying to start living. Zach: You know most people live kind of in the middle between dream come true and you're
dying. And it's a very comfortable place to live. I'm living on two extreme ends so you
have really really good days and you have
really really bad days. Laura: Zach has always been
incredibly empathetic and compassionate. This basketball game I
was kind of laughing about how one of the players had kind of a funny run and he goes
yeah but he's really good at and he listed all these things and I thought he's just always
looking for the good in people and I think he's taught all of us that's how it's done.
Alli: I would say that Zach is a testament to the fact that things are okay when you
believe in something greater than yourself in the world.
Rob: You can be with Zach and just by sitting there with him feel better. He's got, I don't
know how to describe it, he's got this aura about him.
Zach: What makes you happy, is seeing someone else smile because you put it there. That's
what is awesome about living in this world. It's that you can help people. Zach: I like the structure of our family with two guys, two girls for the kids and mom and
dad. Because it kind of evens everything out. Laura: Grace has always been his baby.
Grace: Zach is like the other half of me. All we need is to be there like in the same
room with each other and that's enough for us! Thinking about my life about Zach, it's
really hard to think about that. I really get sick to my stomach when I think about
it. Laura: Zach had been going through the eighth
grade and he and his sister decided to go for a run and he came back from the run and
told me "mom, my left hip hurts." So we went in for an MRI and at this point still I'm
thinking, cancer was still not on my radar at all. Zach: They went in and
found out that it was cancer. It was osteosarcoma. And it was so
unbelievable honestly. Grace: I was upstairs in the kitchen. And
I just went upstairs and I cried. And I just said I got to live life like
Zach is going to die tomorrow. Zach: My mom walked in on me once when I was
lying on the ground because I didn't want to associate my bed with being sick.
Laura: Five days after he finished chemotherapy. He had his routine CT scan of his chest and
they found tumors in both lungs. Laura: She told us six months to a year.
Zach: I just didn't understand that. Like it didn't make any sense to me.
Laura: We did have an option of surgery but that would me they'd have to take his left
leg and half of his pelvis and he wouldn't even be able to sit up. That's when we got
to the point where we have to make decisions about quality of life.
Zach: With the hospital, it's the most sterile place in the world, but you just do not feel
clean there at all and it was tough being there because you felt totally disconnected.
Laura: He decided, I don't want to be in the hospital all the time, I want to be out with
friends, I don't want to feel sick, and I want to be home. Rob: In the house like this where we have six people and four kids part of the time
I enjoy Zach is just when we're alone, just sitting there. We could be watching movies,
we could be talking cars or whatever. Laura: Zach likes to dream big so he kind
of got into cars and car magazines and stuff and that was one thing he would do in the
hospital. Zach: I would sort through the cards and be
like which one is the least expensive but has the highest performance. Nissan GTR is
like, it's perfect! I've dreamt of that car for years. Laura: So we have a little tiny surprise for you. Zach: I don't like surprises. Laura: Oh I think you're going to like this
one. Zach: Holy crap! Are you serious?
Laura: You get to drive it for a week! Grace: You're driving me places!
Rob: Hey Zach, what's up! You like that? Pretty impressive huh?
Rob: The look on his face was so cool and when Zach lights up, it makes everyone happy!
Zach: It's like being dunked in cold water and not being able to breathe but in a really
good way. Rob: It wasn't the car, it was the experience
the car created and the joy that Zach received from driving it and the joy I received from
being with Zach when he got to drive it! Zach: Being able to experience these things,
it helps a lot because you can either sit in your basement and wait or you can get out
there and do some crazy stuff. Laura: When we found the cancer in his pelvis,
they said you know, maybe you should start writing some letters.
Zach: Music is a way I can express myself without having to burden everyone else.
Laura: I was cleaning up downstairs and there was a lot of paper laying around with different
scribblings on it and I picked one up and I read it and it was Clouds! Laura: Sammy and Zach have been dear friends for many many years. They are songwriters
together, that's how they communicate with each other.
Sammy: Our musical thing its like really becoming something and it has become a part of us.
There's going to be nobody like him to do it with again and that's going to be really
hard. Zach: I find that with my situation it is
almost harder to become the other end. I have closure and she won't have closure. Sammy: There are very very very few people
who I love as much as I love Zach. Zach: My closure is being able to get my feelings into these songs, so they could have something
to remember me by or lean on when I was gone. Laura: For me it's Zach's way of saying "I'm okay."
And saying goodbye and I'm just so grateful it's there because I'm going to need it later.
Sam: His music is kind of like a record of how much eh cares for us.
Grace: There's this song that he wrote about me, "For My Grace" so I'll keep that always
with me, constantly. Grace: I love you!
Zach: I love you too Grace! Saying that for like the first time ever!
[off camera]: Is it really? Zach: Pretty much. Yeah she's pretty cool! Zach: I think with my diagnosis, we've become a better and stronger family. We all love
each other just that much more because when you go through stuff like that you go through
it together. Sam: You have to stick together as a family,
I mean that's imperative because we've always been there since Zach was first diagnosed.
We've been there as a family, we're all together and we have to make it through as a family
together. Alli: How will I remember my brother. Happy,
always smiling, and always limping around with his funny little walk. That's as simple
as it is, happy I guess. Zach: My friends, I don't know if they've
accepted me being terminal or not. They know that if they just treat me the same everything
will be fine honestly. Friend 1: He's someone you can trust is going
to be smiling the next day despite his condition. Friend 2: He's kind of just like a light in
the school. If I have a bad day it's not actually really a bad day if I'm just complaining about
something. It's all about perspective I think. Friend 1: He will always live on in my life.
The values he has taught me, memories we've had, they are so ingrained in who I am as
a person. Laura: Amy, she's a smart girl. We knew he
was terminal when they started dating and she knew that. She sat down with her mom and
talked through it and what they decided was would you date him if he didn't have cancer
and she said yeah. She has really helped him through some hard times.
Zach: One of our first dates was we planned a picnic just in a park somewhere.
Amy: I knew he was going in for scans that day.
Zach: We get the results back and my doctor walks in and she's pretty quiet and she looks
pretty serious and it's like well it can't be that bad I mean come on. And she goes,
"So you've got a collapsed lung." I'm like "Oh, okay."
Amy: I broke down crying because it was like the first time it was real that he had cancer.
Because before it was, everything seemed normal. Zach: It was like cool can I at least go to
the picnic and then come back and have surgery, and they were like no we need to do this now.
Laura: He was so devastated because all he cared about was getting to that date.
Zach: I was pretty angry that I had to miss the picnic because who doesn't like a good
picnic, it's awesome, stupid lung. Amy: Good morning!
We're not going to school today! Zach: Where are we going?
Amy: I'll tell you. Zach: I don't know where we're going!
Amy: Just start driving, I'll tell you! Zach: I almost burst into tears just because
it was so perfect. Picnic basket for cold pizza which pretty much defines our relationship
right there. Amy: We know what we both would want in our
future. We know that we love each other just the same amount. Well we talked about getting
married and having kids and our jobs, we do that a lot when we have bad days, so like
when we start to cry. That's when we sit down and plan it all out.
Zach: We would have three or four kids, we haven't decided yet. But I kind of want four
because you can have two boys and two girls then because that's what we had in our family,
it worked out pretty well so. It's one of those things that, it's like your ultimate
dream kind of thing, so most people just ignore it or most people think "I don't know if it
will happen" and you know mine obviously probably won't. Amy: I think the moment I'm most scared about is leaving the hospital after he's gone and
knowing that he's not coming with. And having to walk out of there. Zach: I will actually love her to death,
to my death. That's the thing it's like why not
get married because you know, till death do us part and I'm dying so we better get on
this, that kind of thing but yeah I do love her to death, and I will, forever! Justin: Okay Sobiech family,
everyone come downstairs! So I'm Justin and I'm a director
and we're here making a little documentary about your amazing family member and I came
here and I was expecting to meet a great kid who had a cool YouTube video and was inspiring,
but I was not expecting to meet a seventeen year old that would change my life. So when
I first contacted your mom I told her I wanted to make a music video for you, which we just
unfortunately couldn't do. But what I was able to do was reach out to a few people and
I just told them your story and I told them I just wanted to do something for you because
you've done so much for us. What resulted was something very special. I just want you
to know, this stuff is not happening because you're dying, it's really because of the way
you're living. I just want you to know that. Amy: You can just tell that they all love
Zach's story and admire him so much and it was amazing to see.
Grace: He was in awe, like he couldn't believe it and none of us could! Zach: The most bizarre thing I think I've ever seen, craziest feeling in the world!
Sammy: Seeing everybody who loves him at the end, it made me cry.
Zach: It really makes you want to keep on going. Zach: Aw Grace! Grace you've been my best friend for fourteen years. We've done so much
together and it's going to be tough going but you have to keep being strong. You got
to kick some butt on the basketball court too and take them to the championship.
Zach: Sam, you've been the best big brother anyone could ever ask for. You've given me
so much knowledge. You have helped me through so much and I think it is, it's important you know
that I love you because being guys I don't think we say it too much,
but I do love you so much. Zach: Alli, squeeze from the back of the toothpaste
bottle. I'm going to miss you so much because you've always kept me strong in my faith and
everything. Zach: Mom and Dad, best parents anyone could
ask for I could only wish that I could have kids and raise them like you raised me because
you did one hell of a job. You're the best parents anyone could ever ask for. I love
both of you so much and thank you for being my parents. Zach: Life is really just beautiful moments, one right after the other. All of these experiences
were super super cool. All of them are giving me a little bit more closure on everything
and kind of accepting everything a little bit more. Amy: He's shown me that it's not all about the grades you get or how cool you are in
high school, it's about doing what makes you happy and no matter when you're going to go,
to live life to the fullest everyday. Zach: It's really simple actually, it's just
try and make people happy. Maybe you have to learn with time, maybe you have to learn
it the hard way, but as long as you learn it you're going to make the world a better
place. Laura: I think that's actually one of the
blessings of cancer is that you kind of come out of denial and so in doing that, things
are better! That life is richer, everything means more, beauty is more beautiful, he's a beautiful person
and I'm so happy to have been Zach Sobiech's mom. Zach: Death is just another thing on the agenda kind of. Yeah it's scary but the only reason
it's scary is because you don't know what's next or if there is a next, so it's kind of
like sitting in the dark. So you can either choose to be freaking out in the dark and
thinking okay what's out there or you can just relax and fall asleep and just be happy
and content with everything. Zach: I want to be remembered as a kid who
went down fighting and didn't really lose.
auto_transcript: your your the that can stop writing years there are so many songs he
wants to leave behind with only two months to live his song
called Wow your courage around this time as I about name I'm on the nikkei every teenager out there you know the sand and so on and they'll
never imagined it's not kinda finance worlds its kind and civil way K I'll see you in
five months that I wasn't so I was ready for college pretty much I was pointing out way ahead that yeah terms I sometimes you can't do that my name's axel here seventeen-years-old
never see sarcoma until every few months or less but I so
I'd or today I want everyone to know you don't
find a dime start letter M mmm the new you know most people may have
kinda in the middle mccain I go do come true and you're done and
its to very comfortable place today I'm moving on to Siemens so you have a
really really good days you mad a sac has always been incredibly empathetic stands just basketball game I was kind of
laughing about how one of the players pack never funny
run and yes yeah he's really good at any listed only as things is just I was
looking for the good in people and i think is ty I love this that's how
it's done I would say that sac is a testament to
the fact that things are OK or you believe in
something greater yourself in or outs you can be what's that into space
sitting with him feel better his gun had a nice guy but he's got this for a a bottom makes you happy is seeing someone else my because
birthday thats awesome my living in this world
say you can help people 0 on I like the structure family with to you as heroes kids mind dis can even there is no Grace has
always been his baby zack is like that I have to be all we need is to be there again the
same he and that's enough rest 0 thinking about
her life sec it's really had to think about that
the age I really get like sick to my stomach hmm sack have been going to the eighth grade
and he and his sister decided to go for a run when he came back from the run anytime
you may have been left hip hurts mom so we went in for an MRI and and at this press time thinking cancer
cell not only returned home they went and found out that it was
cancio disasters or chrome and it was so unbelievable on this I was them have stays in kissing and I just nurseries Inc you'd I'll and shed I get it live wife Mike mom saxton veteran am my mom what can only once I was laying
on the ground because I didn't wanna associate my bed with being sick five
days after he finished chemotherapy he had his routine CT scan on his chest
and the phone tumors in pipelines she told six months
we I just didn't understand like it 10 make any sense to me we did have an optional surgery but that
mean that have to take his left leg unhappiness pelvis and he wouldn't be
able to set up that's when we got to the point where game we have to make decisions about
quality of life with the hospital it's the most stereo
place tomorrow but just do not feel calm at home and 0 it's tough being there because you
just he felt totally disconnected he'd
decided I don't wanna be in hospital all the
time I wanna be out with friends anyone feel sick and i wanna be home in a house like this where we have six
people for kids are the time financial sectors
just one wearable certain would be watched a
movie we could be parking tower's or whatever sacking
likes to dream big sell coming out in two carriers and even car
magazine staff members that was one thing that he went to the
hospital on howitzer to the car okay which one is the least expensive as
I S performance Nissan GTR is like perfect I've dreamt
of that car years you know we have and his I don't like surprises fine whom yeah the series you need to I yeah Gulf okay for your breath of the look on his face and so forth exact lights out makes everyone happy
it's like being done to Coldwater not be able to
breathe but in a really good way %uh you was in the car it was the experience the
car created and with joy that sack receives from driving it and the joy I received
from being with got to try being able to experience
slings it helps a lot because you can either sit in your basement wake
or you can get out there and do some crazy stuff when we found the concern is how this as
in you know maybe she's serving to minors music is
away I can express myself without having teen burdensome and its cleaning up
downstairs and their sign a paper land around with
different scribblings on it and I picked one up and I read it and it was
clouds ok Syrians active been dear friends feared many many years there Sun readers
together that's how they communicate with each
other our musical thing has like at like really become
something and it's become party bus is gonna be nobody like him to
do it went again and Mike that's gonna be
really hard I find that my situation seems hard the other hand I have closure issue list there very very very few people I'll as much as ever on make clear is being able to get my feelings disease songs so they could have something remember me
by you know leaving when I was gone for me
it's it's Eric's way of saying I'm OK yes in think that bad shame tournament so grateful that there
because millimeters later his music is kinda like a record of is a.m. might however much he cares for
us station that song that he wrote me
flying ace so if you bet always with me kasich mmm via stuff okay view I love you too grace CSX first hazard very much Its s is pretty cool I think I'm movement Agnes hmmm a better and stronger family we are at
this rate it yourself because when you go through stuff like
that ego 30th you have text stick together as a family
I mean thats imperative because you know we've always been there
ever since actress for staying us you know we've been there as a family we
were all together and we have to make it through as a family together however remember my
brother have here our smiling always month in a
row notice for me a little of pets as simple as it is happy as: my friends I don't know if they've
accepted you meeting tonight they know that if they just remain the
same everything will be fine this is someone
that you can trust is gonna be smiling next day despite his condition he's kinda just like a alright goal had a bad day it's actually a raid what something is first okay she evil
ways live on if to the values he has taught me
memories we've had they're so angry and who I am as a person the Amy she's a smart girl we knew he was terminal when they
started dating she thats she said her mother mom talked
through it and what they decided was would you do
damned if you don't have cancer and she said yeah she's really helped him through some
hard times the number for states was the plane a picnic you know state parks
and I knew yet he's going for scans at a we get the results back and my doctor
oxen's she's pretty quiet shields he serious inside problem can't be that
bad well and she goes so yeah collapse long I'll okay I vote down crying cuz it was
like the first time Israel that cancer as far as everything seemed
normal can discuss the picnic and then come
back and surgery you know do this now he minus home devastated because I cared about was
getting to that date yeah I was as creating handedness pic this hit picnic awesome student loan everyone's money her stockings I school want going things is name for you gore no no good cams home things we say I'm we some showroom Salaam is showing 1- meaning no the Imaam p.m. p.m. yeah p.m. I almost burst into tears just because
it was so picnic basket for cold pizza it was
pretty much defines our relationship with their of we know what we both would want in our future we know that we
love each other just the same well we talked about getting married system and having kids and for jobs and we do have a lot to me have bad ish so like I start to cry batsman also done just planned on weeds have for three or four kids we have decided
yet but I hamlet for his you can have two boys and two
girls and excess we have in our family worked out pretty well Salam it's one of
those things that E you know it's it's like your ultimate train can often cell most people just ignore it must be got
on them and you know I love mine obviously
probably or on home think the movie I'm most scared about is your leaving hospital 0 takes E knowing that his mainland and having to walk out a bit I will actually like and to mind a yeah its estates think it's like wanna kidney is you know til death do us part and and and so we very good on this came yeah I do every day but I'll fairings you on on you old to unanswerable team 1 won't his own tax family everyone come
downstairs yeah song Justin and I'm like director and we're making a
documentary about a your amazing family member and I came
here and I was expecting to me a great kid who you know had cool YouTube video and was inspiring but I was not expecting to
me a 17-year-old that would change my life
so when I first contacted your mom I told
her I wanna make it easier for you which we just force I couldn't do but
what I was able to do was reach out to a few
people and I just for them your story and I told
them I just wanted to do something for you because you've done so much for us what
resulted was something very special I just want and I'll this that's not
happening because you're done it's really because the way and slide Zack such a beautiful song this is for you
rule on means yeah one this I dodge this time you can just tell but now I love sex
sorry and yeah admired so much as amazing to see United of can't believe it new I said home most bizarre thing I think I've ever
seen this issue ok thing everybody 570 handler it made me
cry really makes me wanna keep on going here
are the the the law great Gracie the best friend
here fourteen years and you weekend so much he it's going to be tough on that you to
keep keep its on your kicks in but on the basketball
court the taking the championship the send him even the best Big Brother York score the you give me someones Melissa you have to be here is a much units miss it's important that you know the
the his being guys I don't think he said too
much that you love you system how he in 0 squeeze from the packages a spine burns miss you so much this seems I he's 0 cuz he's shown me if they the who mom and dad and best players in the
world could ever ask for Mickey Loomis said I guess kids rooms thank you missed me is did one helluva job his best fits in with the defense
buildings things being mom my his you just beautiful moments right
after the other all these experiences was person home although they're giving me just a little
bit more calm and can accepting everything more way well well well when he's show me that exiles out grades you care how cool you
are in high school it's about doing what makes you happy
and canelo when you're gonna go to live life to the
fullest every day %uh it's really simple actually it's
just try and make people happy near Tunis
time maybe it's the entire way but as long as you learn it you're gonna
make for a better miss I think that's actually one of the
blessings of cancers they can come on it and I'll and so in doing now things are year you know that at life is Richard everything means more beauty is more beautiful wait a few different sleep Sony happy 10 have been sex VX death is just
another thing on the agenda can yeah it's scary dorrance K has you don't know what's
next her if there is a next says can mix it
in the dark and seeking is used to be freaking out
in the dark thinking okay what's out there I can
just relax fell asleep just be happy and content me want to be remembered as kidding when times cited: didn't lose in the
About
We publish the transcription of a YouTube video. This is useful for: search, language learning.