Marilyn Koolstra

It was excruciating. And we were surrounded by a group of Australian young men going to a Bucks do in Las Vegas.

It was excruciating. And we were surrounded by a group of Australian young men going to a Bucks do in Las Vegas.

They were literally sitting all around us. Rachel had pulled a flight attendant to the side when they had first boarded. I tried to get an upgrade and tell them what the circumstances were.

They were literally sitting all around us. Rachel had pulled a flight attendant to the side when they had first boarded. I tried to get an upgrade and tell them what the circumstances were.

That made her happy. So really, myself and my brothers, that's really what we wanted for our mom.

That made her happy. So really, myself and my brothers, that's really what we wanted for our mom.

She didn't have the same degree of passion and interest that he did. She would do some, but she still had a lot to give to her career, and she was going to be true to that. She started, you know, having given a lot of her life to her family and her first husband...

She didn't have the same degree of passion and interest that he did. She would do some, but she still had a lot to give to her career, and she was going to be true to that. She started, you know, having given a lot of her life to her family and her first husband...

She had put her own desires and goals on the back burner all second, and so she had commenced that career in the middle of her life, and it was really just building momentum at that time. And I don't think she was prepared to compromise on that. She was a very loyal and loving wife, but also she wanted to fulfil her own dreams and goals.

She had put her own desires and goals on the back burner all second, and so she had commenced that career in the middle of her life, and it was really just building momentum at that time. And I don't think she was prepared to compromise on that. She was a very loyal and loving wife, but also she wanted to fulfil her own dreams and goals.

It was hard. It was hard. And, you know, you've got that sense of time passing and it dragging super slowly with this sense of urgency of wanting to be there and in the interim not knowing what's happening to you.

It was hard. It was hard. And, you know, you've got that sense of time passing and it dragging super slowly with this sense of urgency of wanting to be there and in the interim not knowing what's happening to you.

You know, I think she's not that great at asking for when she does need help. So I think I just had let her know that, you know, I'm here if you need me.

You know, I think she's not that great at asking for when she does need help. So I think I just had let her know that, you know, I'm here if you need me.

We were very disoriented and exhausted, but also we probably landed and we were ready to get going.

We were very disoriented and exhausted, but also we probably landed and we were ready to get going.

Mum had been in contact with Eric's hiking friends that he'd met by the John Muir Trail, Julia and Devin.

Mum had been in contact with Eric's hiking friends that he'd met by the John Muir Trail, Julia and Devin.

When we'd arrived, they were searching, so we couldn't actually do anything. So we were sort of sitting there drumming our fingers anyway, going, well, how do we now be useful given we're in a foreign country? We don't know anything. We don't know anyone. Like, where do we even start?

When we'd arrived, they were searching, so we couldn't actually do anything. So we were sort of sitting there drumming our fingers anyway, going, well, how do we now be useful given we're in a foreign country? We don't know anything. We don't know anyone. Like, where do we even start?