From Near Death to Life: Patient Who Reached for Therapy Dog While in a Coma Reunites with ICU Team

It was a moment that defied medical explanation: while clinging to life in a coma with less than a 10% chance of survival, 38-year-old Priscilla Timmons lifted her hand, reaching toward a Memorial therapy dog brought to her ICU bedside. That brief, miraculous gesture marked the beginning of a remarkable recovery.

In March 2025, Priscilla suffered a massive pulmonary embolism that triggered three cardiac arrests and required 41 minutes of resuscitation before her pulse was restored. She endured multi-organ failure, dialysis, liver and respiratory failure, and a prolonged coma.

Now 39, Priscilla returned to Memorial Hospital West to reunite with the ICU team who refused to give up on her, along with therapy dogs “Scrunchie” and “Honey,” who provided comfort and inspiration during her fight for life.

“I remember, while unable to open my eyes, having a very special visitor,” Timmons said. “I felt her paw, and that’s when I was able to move my fingers and lift my hand off the bed.”

The moment became a source of hope for her family. Priscilla’s recovery required a coordinated, hospital-wide effort involving emergency medicine, intensive care, interventional radiology, nursing, and multiple specialty teams.

“It was truly all hands on deck,” said Dan Mayer, MD, Memorial Healthcare System’s chief of critical care. “Our divisions are deeply interconnected, and that continuous, high-level collaboration played a critical role in saving her life.”

After regaining her strength and mobility, Priscilla has returned to her normal life – an extraordinary survival story she credits to both the medical team’s exceptional care and the healing presence of Memorial’s therapy dogs.

“Hearing that someone you love has a low chance of survival really shakes you to your core,” said Macy Shea, Timmons’ niece and best friend, an OR nurse who works at Memorial Regional Hospital.

It was standing room only when the reunion began, as friends, family members, and dozens of healthcare professionals who supported her through every step of her recovery gathered to celebrate the occasion. During the heartfelt reunion, Timmons expressed deep gratitude to the team that refused to give up on her, singling out Dr. Mayer for his ongoing support.

“Dr. Mayer called me to check on me, and he wrote me emails asking me for updates, making sure I was OK. There are a lot of doctors in the world, but if I can say one thing, it’s, be like Dr. Mayer,” Timmons said to great applause.

Mayer reflected on the impact stories like Timmons’ have on caregivers.

“Patients like Priscilla remind us why we do this work. Seeing her healthy and thriving is incredibly meaningful for all of us,” he said. “We celebrate the strength, courage, and unwavering spirit of Priscilla, who stared down a life-threatening, near-fatal illness and came through with grace and determination.”

Priscilla’s story stands as a powerful example of Memorial Healthcare System’s commitment to advanced critical care, seamless collaboration, and compassionate healing – when every moment matters.