Robert and Stephanie Denton arrive in Halifax after U.K. stranding

A Nova Scotia family who was stranded in the U.K. for the past two years returned home early Thursday morning, thanks to friends and family who donated airline reward points and thousands of dollars.

Stephanie Denton and her husband Robert,a former cartoonist who suffers from a degenerative neuromuscular disorder, were greeted atHalifax Stanfield International Airport bymany of those people who helped fly them home.

"It's beyond words. What do you say? You say the standard: Wow. Fantastic. Thank you! None of it says enough," Robert Denton said.

Stephanie Denton is especially looking forward to doing one thing now that they're home.

"I'm going to see my grand critter. My daughter has a son I've never met," she said.

One thing after another

The couple arrived in the U.K. in October 2013 with work visas. It had been Stephanie Denton's dream to go and be with family she hadn't seen for many years.

Robert Denton, who wasdiagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease at a young age, was hospitalized with a skin infection just three months after they arrived. From there, "one thing just kind of went out against us after the other," his wife said.

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Stephanie Denton became her husband'sfull-time caregiver. They relied mostly on savings, even though computer software allowed Robert Denton to continue a monthly political cartoonfor theTruro community publication, HubNow.

It was Denton's editor, Jeff Gill, who began fundraising the required 230,000 Aeroplan points and several thousand dollars to get them back.

"People I thought would never remember me came out of the woodwork," he said.

Donations may continue

Truro MP Bill Casey helped organize a hospital bed and other necessities to make life more comfortable.

"When they arrive in Truro, they [will] have everything they need. The reccentre has offered to give access to the rehabilitation facility and exercise rooms and things," Casey said.

Robert Denton says his family has grown to include the people who helped him return to Nova Scotia.

"I feel so loved," he said.

There is an account in trust for Robert Denton set up through Scotiabank for donations needed to make their new homeaccessible and buy medicalsupplies.