Miracles galore: Two-dozen stab wounds missed vital organs

By Kelsey Watts, KTVZ.COM

The sister of Bend resident Britt Leis, brutally stabbed with his fiancee last week in Ecuador, issued a statement Wednesday, updating his condition and expressing thanks and gratitude to those supporting the family.

Here's the statement from Amber Leis, in full:

"Our family would like to express our gratitude for the outpouring of concern for Britt and Lia. The prayers and well wishes have meant a great deal to us as we make our way through this difficult time.  We ask now for some privacy as we begin to cope with this incredible tragedy. 

"Britt is currently stable but in critical condition.  We have no further information about his condition to share at this time.

"We are grateful to the Loma Linda University Medical Center, to the faculty and staff caring for Britt, and to Dr. Catalano for providing a place for us to bring Britt so that he could be evacuated from Ecuador. We would also like to thank the medical evacuation crew from American Jet who provided transportation and care for Britt and Lia.  They have all been an answer to prayers.

"Many individuals have communicated a desire to help Britt and Lia with their mounting medical bills. The family is overwhelmed with the outpouring of generosity, and have established a fund in Britt's name: Britt Leis Medical Assistance Fund at Bank of America, and Britt Leis Donation Fund at Bank of the Cascades.  Family friends have established an online auction to benefit Britt and Lia at http://www.studio3design.com/ as well.

"We will provide periodic updates through the hospital public relations department, and encourage all interested parties to direct their inquiries there.  Thank you again for all the love, prayer and support being shown our family."

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After a terrifying few days, there's some good news for a Bend couple who were brutally attacked in Ecuador. Britt Leis, and his fiance, Lia Koehn, are now back in the U.S.

The couple were flown by a medevac plane out of Ecuador to Miami early Tuesday morning. They then were flown to Southern California, where Britt was listed in serious condition at Loma Linda Medical Center, five days after being stabbed more than 24 times.

His family says it's a miracle he survived.

The phone's been ringing off the hook at the Sisters home of Leis's father, Ron Leis and his wife Shawn, ever since word of the attack spread.

"Their mission down there was to go down, enjoy the country, find some little community, enter in and live with the people," Ron Leis said Tuesday. "They got taken out."

Leis was stabbed several times from his neck down and left for dead.  His fiance also was beaten and assaulted. With a background as a Spanish medical translator at St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, she was able to get help.

"That is one of the miracles here," Ron Leis said.

Britt Leis was then transferred to a hospital in Quito, where a team of doctors worked on his wounds for 12 hours. It's not clear exactly how many times he was stabbed; it may be more than 24, officials in Ecuador said. At least 18 of the wounds were treated for infection.

"There they discovered, no vital organs hit," his father said, with amazement.  "Damage, but no vital organs."

While the Leis family worked to get the couple out of Ecuador, they got a miracle phone call.

"The next message we get is there's a plane leaving Miami for Ecuador, to get Britt out," Ron explained as tears formed in his eyes.

While doctors prepared him for the flight, another miracle.

"Britt opened his eyes, which the physicians in Quito didn't know would ever happen again," his father said.

Now he's being treated at Loma Linda Medical Center in California, where his sister, Amber, is a doctor. The family is making plans to go see their son, a reunion that brings Ron Leis to tears.

"[I'll] walk into that room, and kiss Britt's face," he said. "That's - I can't imagine how that's going to be."

There's still no word from Ecuador on why the couple was attacked, or if any arrests have been made in the case. 

The Leis family hopes to bring Britt back home to St. Charles for long-term care, but it's too early to tell how long he'll have to stay in California.

Funds in Leis's name have been set up at the Bank of America and Bank of the Cascades, to help with medical and transportation expenses, family members said. Another Website has been started at www.helpbrittandlia.com.

NewsChannel 21 tried contacting Lia Koehn's family, but was unsuccessful.