TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- "Never give up. Never lose your faith. Miracles happen. Never underestimate that," said Raymond Chretien. His mother was found alive after 48 days in the wilderness. She was taken to a Twin Falls hospital where she is in surprisingly fair condition.
Family members say Rita Chretien and her husband, Albert, wanted to take the scenic route as they were on their way from Canada to Las Vegas. But after getting lost and stuck, that scenic route turned into a life-changing ordeal that lasted 48 days for Rita.
"The map led them to believe, rightly or wrongly, that the road was a much safer road than it was," said Raymond Chretien.
That road turned out to be not much more than some tire tracks in the mountains of northern Nevada. Rita and Albert Chretien got stuck miles from civilization. After three days, Albert set out for help.
"They were clearly out in the middle of nowhere," said Raymond Chretien. "I know my father. He wanted to get help, and he had about 27 miles to go, maybe a three-day trek to find help."
Albert didn't find help, and the search for him continues.
Rita never left the area around the van. For 48 days, she waited and made due with limited supplies.
"She had a small amount of trail mix that lasted a week, a tablespoon a day," said Raymond Chretien. "A couple fish oil pills a day, and a hard candy a day, and the melted snow and water she got from the stream or mud puddle or whatever it was; that's what kept her going. She's a Christian, she reads her Bible every day. She had books she was reading, she had time to think and pray."
Rita tried to start a fire a few times, but everything was just too wet.
While waiting for rescue, she said a favorite scripture of hers was Psalm 86. The 2nd verse reads, "Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you -- you are my God."
"She definitely had hope, but of course, just like with us, every day that goes by, you start preparing yourself for both options," said Raymond Chretien.
Her doctor, James Westberry, said she didn't have much time left.
"Maybe a few days, maybe not much more than that," Westberry said. "She was definitely getting somewhat toward the end."
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