Frostbitten UMD Student Makes Public Appearance

ST. PAUL - There was a special fan cheering in the stands when the state boy's hockey tournament kicked off Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center.

UMD student Alyssa Lommel, 19, was there to watch her younger brother play for St. Cloud Cathedral.

Lommel suffered severe frostbite after she spent a night in subzero temperatures in December.

Doctors had to amputate parts of her hands and feet.

Her brother, Leo, said her strength has been inspirational.

"Stay strong no matter what. She's really tough. She's probably the toughest out of all of us. She's the only girl in the family so sometime we can take lessons from her and not just my older brothers," Leo said.

Lommel has been recovering at home since she left the hospital last month.