California couple finds language of love without words

ROSEVILLE, Calif. -- You may never find a couple more in love than Karen and Don Schwab.

The Schwabs have been married for 15 year, according to CBS affiliate KOVR in Sacramento. It was the second marriage for both, but seemed as if they'd been looking for each other forever.

"Don is the sweetest, nicest person I have ever known in my entire life," Karen said, recalling that Don was a nervous man when he first asked her out.

"I thought, get on with it, he was kind of stammering," she said.

The retired chemist got it together and found chemistry with the woman of his dreams. Life was good for the Roseville, California couple until one year into their marriage, when something earth-shattering happened.

"It was one of those really quick moments when... something that just flashed through my mind that said, our whole lives just changed, just like that," she said.

Don suffered a stroke.

What Karen didn't know was if her husband of just a year would even make it. Doctors told her it didn't look good.

"They told me the day that he had his stroke that he probably wouldn't live," she said. "They said if you have family -- gather them and get your affairs in order."

Don would beat the odds. Months of therapy would make him stronger, and with some help he learned to walk again.

But what didn't return is his ability to speak. Don hasn't said a word in nearly 15 years.

"He had a deep voice... he had a deep strong voice," Karen said.

Don's voice was gone the moment he had his stroke. But that hasn't stopped them from communicating. Sometimes it's a system of hand signals, other times it's just a look.

"I can pretty much just tell what he wants," she said.

Karen can also tell how much her husband cares about her.

"The way he looks at me sometimes after I've done something for him that I know he appreciates, things like that -- the hug that he gives me, the kiss that he gives me, the simple touch -- that doesn't change, that hasn't changed," she said.

But their love has -- it's grown even stronger.

"True love to me is being with the other person no matter what -- the good, the bad and the ugly, no matter what -- and never giving up on them and hope that they never give up on you," Karen said.

What's their secret to surviving the heartache and pain of such a devastating blow?

"You just have to accept it and make the best of it and get on with your life," she said.