After multiple organ failure, woman in induced coma had a 10% chance of survival until a therapy dog nuzzled her hand and a miracle unfolded

A woman endured the worst medical emergency of her life, suffering from multiple organ failure. Doctors confirmed that she had only a 10% chance of survival as she struggled to come out of a medically induced coma. While her family prayed for her recovery, a furry visitor did the unthinkable. A miracle unfolded in the ICU ward as a therapy dog nuzzled patient Priscilla Timmons’ hand, which turned into a life-saving act.

Timmons, 39, was rushed to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Florida, after she suffered three cardiac arrests and organ failures that forced doctors to put her in an induced coma for 21 days. She had texted her mother before fainting in her bathroom on March 13. She was diagnosed with a massive pulmonary embolism that unleashed a wave of health issues. Noting her condition, they informed her family that the situation was critical. The doctors “reported that she had a 10% chance of survival,” her GoFundMe page stated. But the medical team did not give up. Dr. Daniel Mayer, chief of critical care at the hospital, explained during a press conference that they had no choice.  

"In the ICU, she deteriorated and went into cardiac arrest. Thanks to our ICU team and their refusal to give up despite no cardiac contractility for 40 minutes, we achieved resumption of cardiac activity.” The brave woman fought for nearly a month before being placed in a coma. While Timmons could not move or see anything, she could hear and feel the environment around her. Scrunchie, a Golden Retriever therapy dog, walked in as a golden ray of hope that saved her life. Timmons’ family worried whether she might never wake up, but a simple touch from Scrunchie did what days of treatment could not.  

The dog’s handler placed a treat on Timmons’ hand, lying flat on the hospital bed. Scrunchie approached it with her nose and began nuzzling her hand. The dog lover in Timmons awoke, and the joy of feeling a paw in her hand motivated her to lift her hand. “I was able to move my fingers and lift my hand off the bed and into the air. As a huge dog lover, this gave me all the motivation to reach out to her as much as possible,” she said in a press conference, per PEOPLE. It was only moments before Timmons was awake and finally able to meet her family and friends following the storm of health issues. 

Later, the woman returned to thank her caregivers and dog savior at a press conference on October 22, 2025. She promised to “not let this miracle go to waste.” Now, Timmons runs an Instagram page, @faith_flows_strong, to raise awareness about blood clots and their dangers. She acknowledged how significant Scrunchie’s visit was in tipping off her miraculous recovery. “Thank goodness for therapy dogs because they are such angels.” A few months later, Timmons was admitted once again after feeling uneasy. She claimed she was trying to be safe and avoid any further risks. Timmons was discharged as completely healthy.