Couple shares medical bond with Gabby Giffords
Reporter: Corinne Hautala
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – As America watches Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery, there is at least, one Arizona man paying extra close attention to her progress.
Vince Buie of Phoenix, like Giffords, suffered a brain injury and underwent a similar surgery in Tucson as she did.
Buie says it is a miracle he’s alive.
"I woke up with three or four tubes in my head," he recalls about the moment he came out of his coma at the Carondelet Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
In May, the 28-year-old was in Tucson on business when he had a stroke at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
"Right place, right time," Buie said with a smile.
Buie works at hospitals selling medical equipment. He was about to sit in on a surgery when he had the stroke.
"I passed out or blacked out. All I remember is three weeks later, waking up and I was in the hospital," he said.
While Buie was in a coma, his wife of 5-years stayed by his side. She said she found comfort hearing about Giffords’ remarkable recovery.
"I paid attention to what was going on and how she was recovering and after a couple of weeks she woke up. Those things definitely gave me hope," said Tara Buie.
After only a couple weeks of therapy, the Phoenix man, made a full recovery, while being inspired by Giffords.
"Seeing her recover so well and having her spouse by her side the whole time is inspiring and just shows that if you have faith, if you have people by your side, things aren't as bad as they could be," he said.
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