it's now believed he's being held by aman al zawahiri. just days ago, this new tape. on it, weinstein looks right into the camera with a message, and an appeal to president obama. >> mr. obama. you're family man. so you understand the deep mental anxiety and anguish that i have been experiencing for these past more than two years. >> reporter: his wife, his two daughters, sitting down with us. they say their father suffers from a heart condition and his health is deteriorating. it's been 2 1/2 years without her husband. when he looked straight into that camera and said, it seems that i have been totally abandoned. >> i have been totally abandoned and forgotten. >> i wanted to die right there on the spot. because he has no idea how hard we have tried to get him back. but there's nothing to do to get him back. because they don't really tell you what they want. i would like to think that somebody can rescue him. >> reporter: david muir, abc news, new york. >> all right, david. what a story. our exclusive interview does not end here. we'll hear how his grandchildren are r

it's now believed he's being held by al qaeda leader, aman al zawahiri.e looked into the camera and said, it seems that i have been totally abandoned. >> it seems that i have been totally abandoned and forgotten. >> i wanted to die right there on the spot. he has no idea how hard we have tried to get him back. but there's nothing to do to get him back because they don't tell you what they want. the funny thing is, that -- i always take him to the airport. and i always pick him up. and he sees my lip begin to quiver and he says, oh, please don't cry. that was the last time i saw him. >> his grandchildren? they miss him? >> oh, yes, ask their mother. constant. >> our daughter, we finally had to tell her. that was one of the hardest things ever. that little brain of hers. a 7-year-old. to ask the questions she had to ask. >> what did she ask? >> my birthday is coming soon. is he going to be home for this one? how do you answer that for a kid? such a burden at such a young age to have to -- to have to go through that. >> to have her wonder if her grandfather