A young couple who were stranded for eight days in the snow and spent nearly a month recovering in the hospital say the ordeal strengthened their love.
"We've learned a lot about the importance and depth of our love," said Army Pfc. James Stolpa, his 5-month-old son, Clayton, on his lap and his wife, Jennifer, by his side."We have had times of fear and times of great love. Some times have been like a nightmare and some have been like a wonderful dream."
The Stolpas, both 21, were in wheelchairs, having lost part of their feet to frostbite. They spoke to reporters Monday before leaving a Reno, Nev., hospital, where they were brought after their Jan. 7 rescue.
Their truck became stuck in deep snow Dec. 29 in Nevada on their way from Castro Valley to a funeral in Pocatello, Idaho. Jennifer Stolpa huddled with the baby in a cave while her husband walked about 60 miles through waist-deep snow for help.
After their rescue, Jennifer Stolpa described her husband as her hero. But on Monday, Stolpa praised his wife's courage. "I consider Jennifer as my hero because she saved my baby and kept him alive while I was gone," he said.
The couple agreed the worst part was when they had to separate so Stolpa could seek help.
"We didn't know if we were ever going to see each other again," he said.
Jennifer Stolpa said, "I knew in my heart he would make it and I told Clay that. I had a lot of faith in him and a lot of faith in God that he would help him."
Doctors amputated part of their feet and reconstructed blood vessels and muscles so they could walk again using special shoes but no prostheses.
The baby survived unharmed and has been staying with his parents in the hospital.
Dr. Norman Young, an orthopedic surgeon, said the couple would undergo physical therapy. "We will not know for sure the success for another two months, perhaps longer," he said.
Young said they are scheduled to return to Reno once a week for three or four weeks so doctors can monitor their progress. Meanwhile, they will stay with relatives on an outpatient basis.
"I can't wait to go to the mall," Jennifer Stolpa said.
Both agreed that their decision to skirt Interstate 80, which was closed by a snowstorm, and take a gravel road through the extreme northwestern tip of Nevada was foolhardy.
"It was really stupid," Jennifer Stolpa said, adding that her mother-in-law had urged them not to drive in the storm.
"Maybe it will teach other kids to listen to their mothers," she said.