( CNN ) -- Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee told Ling 's sister they were treated humanely in North Korea , and they believe they were n't sent to hard-labor camps because they have medical conditions , Lisa Ling said Friday . Lisa Ling , left , and her sister , Laura , center , speak to their father Wednesday after Laura arrived in California . The sister , speaking on CNN 's `` American Morning , '' did not elaborate on the medical conditions , but said her sister will soon tell her story . `` Laura is eager to tell the story about what happened . I want to let her do so , but right now , she 's really getting reacclimated . The processes are slow . She 's very , very weak , '' Lisa Ling said , adding that the stories she 's heard so far are `` jaw-dropping . '' Laura Ling and Lee were working for California-based Current TV , a media venture of former Vice President Al Gore , when they were arrested in March for crossing the border between China and North Korea . Watch Lisa Ling share her sister 's story » . Lisa Ling said that before they left the United States , the pair never intended to cross into North Korea . They have acknowledged that they briefly did , however , and they were convicted of entering the country illegally to conduct a `` smear campaign '' against the reclusive Communist state . They were sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor . North Korea 's leader , Kim Jong Il , pardoned the women Tuesday after meeting with former President Bill Clinton . They arrived home the following day . Lisa Ling said her sister was allowed to call the family on four occasions during her five months in captivity . On the last call , Laura Ling specifically requested that Clinton intervene . `` She said that in her opinion -- quote , unquote -- it would have to be President Clinton . It could only be President Clinton to secure the release of herself and Euna . We immediately jumped into action and alerted Vice President Gore , '' Lisa Ling said . When their release was secured , they promptly boarded a plane home . Clinton wanted them to rest because they were clearly tired , `` but the two of them were chatting away and comparing their experiences , '' Lisa Ling said . Laura Ling and Lee went to see doctors Thursday , the sister added . Laura Ling is `` doing well , '' and Lee is `` skinny , '' Lisa Ling said , joking that her mother tried to force-feed Lee on Thursday `` because she 's just become so diminutive . '' The women also are slowly working to assimilate to their freedom . They were kept at opposite ends of the same North Korean detention facility , and though Laura Ling had two guards in her room at all times , she would sometimes go weeks without talking to anyone . Watch as Lisa Ling describes the pair 's condition » . `` So even communicating is a challenge because she sometimes yesterday was even having a hard time getting full sentences out , so it 's a slow adjustment , '' Lisa Ling said . On Thursday , Lisa Ling told CNN that her sister was `` incredibly emotional '' and did n't want to be left alone after months of `` relative isolation . '' `` Yesterday , she was so exhausted and she wanted to take a quick nap . She kept asking me : 'Are you going to be here when I come back ? ' `` the sister said Thursday . Emotions have run high in Lee 's home as well , Lisa Ling said . Watch the journalists ' family reunions » . `` I hear from Euna 's husband , Michael , that Hana , their 4-year-old daughter , has not wanted her mother to leave her sight , '' she said . `` She just keeps following her around from room to room because she does n't want her mom to leave . '' Lee and her husband went to Laura Ling 's house Thursday night for their first pizza since being released , Lisa Ling said Friday . `` The thing that was so wonderful to see was little Hana , '' she said . `` I have never seen her so happy , and we all sort of remarked that it was just a beautiful thing . '' Lisa Ling said her sibling will soon share her `` powerful '' story , perhaps in an op-ed piece , but she needs space right now . Lisa Ling , meanwhile , is elated that her sister and Lee are safe . She said she always knew they would come home . `` I believe in the fundamental goodness , '' she said . `` I knew in my heart that at some point , Laura and Euna would be returned back to us . I did n't know when it would happen , but I never lost that hope . ''
NEW : Sister : Clinton `` skinny , '' Euna Lee 's struggling to talk because of isolation . NEW : Laura Ling told family , `` It would have to be President Euna Lee , '' Lisa Ling says . Laura Ling plans to detail what transpired , sister says . Lisa Ling daughter keeps following her , Euna Lee says .