What are the changes in Rolf's personality toward the end of "And of Clay Are We Created"?

In the beginning, Rolf approaches the story as he would any other. When he arrives on the scene by way of helicopter, he begins to deliver the story in his typical calm demeanor. The narrator shares that, "Fear seemed never to touch him."
However, the narrator also notes changes in Rolf as the story progresses. When he attempts to place the rope around Azucena to remove her from the mud, she screams in pain. Rolf realizes she is trapped, and there is a break in his voice. While he maintains optimism for a time, the narrator again notices that Rolf is becoming exhausted and weary.
On the second night, Azucena "surrendered her fear" to Rolf, and the narrator observes that Rolf feels obligated to face his fears as well. Rolf shares stories of his past that he has repressed to avoid the pain that they invoke. He seems no longer able to hide behind his feats of bravery as a reporter and is instead overcome with emotion.
According to the narrator, "something fundamental had changed in him," and she recognizes the moment when Rolf accepts the girl's fate. Rolf returns to the narrator a changed man, and she waits patiently for him to heal.