GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — War broke out the day Dr. Barbara Zind arrived in Gaza and instead of helping sick children as she intended, she wound up on a devastating odyssey to survive.

After all the worry and fear, on Wednesday, Dr. Paul Preston confirmed to WesternSlopeNow his wife, Dr. Zind, finally escaped Gaza.

Utter relief was Dr. Preston’s first reaction to hearing his wife was on her way home from war-torn Gaza. A terrifying ordeal, finally over.

As violence intensified, Dr. Preston urged locals to contact senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper on Barbara’s behalf, hoping they could get her home before it was too late. Preston says he was touched by the outpouring of support from the Grand Junction community and he thinks it helped get Barbara home, while other Americans remain left behind.

Dr. Preston says few Americans, especially locals realize just how chaotic the situation in Gaza truly is. Gazans only have electricity for a few hours per day and with so much destruction, there may be difficulty rebuilding.

Dr. Preston tells WesternSlopeNow he’s just excited to see Dr. Zind home safe and welcome her home with a hug. He says he looks forward to just relaxing and talking with his wife after so long apart.

Wednesday night, WesternSlopeNow texted Dr. Zind through WhatsApp. She told WesternSlopeNow she was on the 18th floor of the Hilton in Cairo overlooking the Nile and took the best shower ever.

Now, Zind is on a plane to the U.S. looking forward to a homecoming no one was certain would happen.