[Malveaux:] A New York family who lost everything after Superstorm Sandy are struggling to make a new life. And one of the biggest challenges is for this 13-year-old star student in the family to just get to school. Poppy Harlow has the story.
[Harlow:] The sun isn't up for breakfast time for the Panettas. [on camera]: How tired are you?
[Ryan Panetta:] Very.
[Harlow:] Tim, Ryan, Christian and Carly are now living in a borrowed one bedroom apartment with their parents. [on camera]: How long is your commute to school now?
[Ryan Panetta:] It feels almost like two hours.
[Harlow:] What did it used to be?
[Ryan Panetta:] 15 minutes.
[Harlow:] Wow. [voice-over]: 6:30 a.m., and they're out the door. A long car ride
[Karen Panetta, Ryan's Mother:] Have a good day.
[Harlow:] then a bus to Ryan's temporary school, PS 13.
[Karen Panetta:] It's unreal how much our life has changed, and we're trying to make the best of it.
[Harlow:] He is an eighth grade honor student, one of 5,400 New York students still in different schools because of Sandy.
[Carrie James, Teacher:] he is the one that I think was probably impacted the most, and yet, he has the strongest will to be here every day.
[Ryan Panetta:] When something brings you down, you got to get up.
[Harlow:] You OK, buddy? What makes you so sad?
[Ryan Panetta:] I honestly don't know.
[Harlow:] Everything?
[Ryan Panetta:] Yes. It's everything.
[Unidentified Male:] Stop at the VFW for hot meals.
[Karen Panetta:] Have a good day, Ryan.
[Harlow:] Every day after school, Ryan returns to Broad Channel to help his dad try to put their home back together.
[Joe Panetta, Father Of Ryan:] Everything I owned, everything I worked hard for, everything that was there, and it's gone. There's nothing.
[Harlow:] Joe was working overnights and Karen was home with their four children when Sandy hit.
[Karen Panetta:] It was unbelievable how quick it came out.
[Harlow:] The water rushed into their one story house. Ryan swam to a neighbor for help.
[Ryan Panetta:] I jumped out.
[Harlow:] You jumped out here in the water?
[Ryan Panetta:] Yes. I wasn't even thinking that, like, a log would hit me or anything.
[Harlow:] Or the electrical power lines?
[Ryan Panetta:] Yes.
[Harlow:] You swam to this house?
[Ryan Panetta:] Yes, right here. And they took us into their second floor.
[Harlow:] The neighbor helped bring the rest of the family over, and they watched as the water engulfed the only home they had known. [on camera]: What did you think when your 13-year-old son jumped in the water?
[Karen Panetta:] You know, I was panicking. I was panicking.
[Harlow:] Did Ryan help save your family?
[Karen Panetta:] Absolutely.
[Harlow:] No question?
[Karen Panetta:] Absolutely.
[Christian Panetta, Ryan's Brother:] I was thinking that the rain is going to come.
[Harlow:] Do you feel like your brother helped save you?
[Christian Panetta:] Yes.
[Harlow:] Now all the Panettas are working to rebuild their home, and erase the bad memories.
[Ryan Panetta:] After what I have just been through, like, I don't hope I have to see anything that terrifying again.
[Harlow:] Poppy Harlow, CNN, Broad Channel, New York.
[Malveaux:] We wish them the best. Medical marijuana doctors don't recommend it for children, but for one 6-year-old boy it brings new meaning to life.