A Miracle in Minutes

2/3/2026

How being in the right place, at the right time saved one woman’s life amidst a near fatal heart attack

For months, Patty Scevers, president of DeTar’s volunteer board, brushed off subtle but persistent symptoms - dizziness, back pain and the general feeling that something wasn’t right. Like many women, she assumed it was stress or fatigue. Aches and pains were explained away by her active lifestyle. It wasn’t until January 5 while leaving a funeral, that she felt a crushing pain in her chest that she could no longer ignore or explain away.

“I remember sitting there and feeling this crushing pain in my chest,” Scevers said. “It was different this time. I knew something was seriously wrong. It felt like an elephant was standing on me.”

The funeral was held just minutes from DeTar Hospital North — a detail Scevers now believes saved her life. With her chest pain worsening rapidly, Scevers went to the DeTar Hospital North emergency room, arriving with only minutes to spare.

“They told me I had about a ten-minute window to get to the ER,” Scevers said. “If I hadn’t made it when I did, my chance of survival would have been around 20 percent. That’s terrifying to think about.”

Emergency room staff immediately jumped into action, administering life-saving medication after emergency medicine physician Dr. Christopher Happel became alarmed by her EKG readings. Staff stabilized Scevers before transferring her to DeTar Hospital Navarro for advanced cardiac care.

“Dr. Chappel and the ER staff at North were my angels. And when I arrived at the Navarro Hospital, another angel was waiting for me having lunch,” Scevers said.

Moments after her arrival to the cath lab, cardiologist Dr. Harish Chandna discovered the true severity of the situation.

“Patty had two major arteries that were each 99 percent blocked,” said Dr. Chandna. “This was a critical, time-sensitive heart attack. The fact that she listened to her body and sought care immediately made all the difference.”

Dr. Chandna placed two stents to restore blood flow to her heart.

“In cases like this, minutes truly matter,” Dr. Chandna said. “Early intervention is often the difference between life and death. Patty’s outcome is a powerful example of why people should never ignore symptoms or hesitate to seek emergency care.”

Scevers also credits the calm, compassionate response from the entire DeTar team — including the transport and cath lab teams, the ICU and ER staff for helping her through the most frightening moments of her life.

“They were fast, they were focused and they truly cared,” she said. “From the moment I walked in, I felt like I was in the right place. Every single person treated me like I mattered.”

On the Monday morning that Patty had her near-fatal heart attack, she wasn’t even supposed to be in town.

“I was supposed to be driving back from Nashville that day after visiting my son, but I came home early to attend the funeral,” Scevers said. “If I hadn’t, I don’t know if I’d be here today.”

Now recovering, Patty says the experience has permanently changed her perspective. She has already made significant lifestyle changes, including adopting a more heart healthy diet, reducing stress and prioritizing her health in ways she hadn’t before.

“This opened my eyes. We take so much for granted,” Scevers said.

That twist of timing — combined with the funeral’s proximity to DeTar Hospital North — is something Patty describes as nothing short of a blessing.

“I truly believe everything lined up for a reason,” Scevers said. “God truly had his angels surrounding me that day and they were all in the right place. I also happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Scevers wants to share her story so that others, especially women, don’t ignore the warning signs their body is sending them.

“Advocate for yourself. Listen to your body. And don’t wait,” Scevers said.

Dr. Chandna echoed that message.

“Heart attack symptoms don’t always look the same, particularly in women,” he said. “If something feels off, trust your instincts and seek care immediately. Patty’s story is one we hope encourages others to act quickly.”

As she continues her recovery in DeTar’s cardiac rehab program, Scevers says her gratitude for DeTar Health System runs deep.

“They saved my life,” Scevers said. “I’ll never forget that.”

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