EMERALDAS, Ecuador – The Bend couple brutally attacked while on vacation in Ecuador had been documenting their trip on an online blog.

In the most recent entry, Leah Koehn said she has feared that her fiancé, Britt Leis would die after he was stabbed 18 times on the beach in the small South American coastal community of Emeraldas. She said he had undergone three surgeries and was recovering in intensive care.

Britt Leis and Leah Koehn pose for a photo in front of a waterfall on their vacation in Ecuador.

“His condition started out as very serious and has gradually gotten even more so… I was informed by the head surgeon that there is no certainty that he will survive. That being said, he was conscious and talking last night and I have continued to be amazed by his strength.”

The rest of the postings on the blog reflect happier times; when Britt and Leah were traveling across Ecuador as part of a year-long trip they planned after selling all their belongings and getting engaged.

An October 11th entry talks about a visit to an artesian craft market in Otavalo, north of Quito. The couple climbed a giant staircase and enjoyed picking their way through eucalyptus and corn fields. Leah also joked about how Britt got his words mixed up in translation and mistakingly asked a bus driver “pechuga?” which actually means “chicken breast.” When trying to find out how far the next town was.

The blog entries describe each destination along the couple’s trip in careful descriptions so friends and family could feel like they were going along for the ride. Loved ones also sent comments back to the couple, staying in touch as they traveled.

The couple did not appear to be concerned about their safety on the trip, even hitching rides at times with local farmers, accepting an invitation to have a snack inside a local woman's home and posing for many photos along the way.

 More: Couple stabbed & beaten on beach

They appeared to be enjoying the adventure and opening themselves whole-heartedly to experience the local culture and making new friends along the way.