'Guardian angel' nurse reunites with crash victim
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Two months after a horrific crash which left a man with traumatic brain injuries, he got to meet the woman who stopped and helped him moments after the accident.
Sunday at WakeMed, Luke Iorio and his family got to meet Vicki Dedeugd.
Dedeugd, a nurse, says she was just doing her job when she stopped to help Iorio after he crashed his motorcycle in Morrisville.
"A nurse had come on the scene and was performing CPR for quite a long time before the medics could get on the scene," said Stephanie Iorio, Luke's mother.
In addition to head injuries, Luke suffered broken ribs and punctured lungs. Doctors said he likely wouldn't survive, but he pulled through.
His family says it was because of Dedeugd, his 'guardian angel."
"When I think of him and what he had to go through, you know it breaks my heart," says Dedeugd. "So he's the trooper, he's the strong one."
Luke's brain injury is so severe he has trouble remembering his own family. During the reunion, a moment of clarity brought him to tears as he handed over a bouquet of roses to Dedeugd.
"Thank you so much, ma'am," Luke was able to say.
There was a single pink rose in the middle in honor of his brand new baby girl born just a few days ago.
Luke is gaining back his strength through rehabilitation at WakeMed.
Dedeugd is urging others to learn the life saving skill that helped Luke.
"Go to the Red Cross and get certified in CPR. It saves lives," she said.
