The Craft Crushes co-founder, previously featured in The Towson Torch, shares an extraordinary story of survival, heartbreak, and hope after her mother was brought back to life following 45 minutes without a heartbeat at GBMC.
When The Towson Torch first introduced readers to Stacey Fifer in March 2025, we shared the inspiring story of a Maryland entrepreneur who was building a successful beverage company while raising two young daughters and carrying forward the dream she had started with her late husband.
But as it turns out, Stacey's story of perseverance goes far beyond the success of Craft Crushes.
Now, the Towson-area entrepreneur and her family are receiving national attention in PEOPLE magazine, which recently featured their almost unbelievable story of how Stacey's mother, Kathy Patten, survived 45 minutes without a heartbeat at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) — on the very day Stacey was giving birth to her daughter.
Two Lives, One Extraordinary Day
In July 2021, Stacey was preparing to welcome her first child, Alora, at GBMC in Towson. It was a moment of happiness during an already difficult chapter in her life. Her husband, Rich Fifer, had been diagnosed with cancer, and the arrival of their daughter offered the family a much-needed source of hope.
Stacey's mother, Kathy, was at the hospital to support her daughter through labor when she suddenly began feeling ill.
What started with an upset stomach and discomfort in her arm quickly escalated into a life-threatening medical emergency.
Kathy suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest.
For 45 minutes, she had no heartbeat.
As doctors desperately worked to revive Kathy, Stacey was upstairs, still in labor, facing the possibility of losing her mother on the very day she was becoming one herself.
In the PEOPLE interview, Stacey recalled pleading with the medical team:
"Please, please, please, I can't lose my mom the day that I give birth to my daughter."
A Medical Team That Refused to Give Up
Dr. Dov Frankel, one of the physicians involved in Kathy's resuscitation, described the extraordinary effort to save her life.
Despite repeated attempts to restart her heart, Kathy continued to slip back into cardiac arrest.
Eventually, after doctors administered a clot-dissolving medication and continued their resuscitation efforts, her heartbeat returned.
The fact that Kathy was already inside GBMC when the emergency occurred proved critical. Immediate, continuous CPR and oxygenation helped protect her brain during the prolonged cardiac arrest.
Meanwhile, Stacey faced complications of her own. After a difficult labor, her daughter Alora was delivered by emergency cesarean section.
Mother and daughter survived. And against extraordinary odds, so did Grandma Kathy.
Kathy's recovery was far from certain. Doctors initially feared that the prolonged cardiac arrest might have caused permanent brain damage or other serious complications.
But she eventually made a remarkable recovery.
One month later, she was finally able to hold her new granddaughter.
Kathy now calls Alora her guardian angel.
"She saved me," Kathy told PEOPLE.
Kathy with newborn granddaughter Alora
Stacey’s interview with People
Finding Strength Through Unimaginable Loss
For readers familiar with Stacey's earlier Towson Torch profile, the PEOPLE feature adds another powerful dimension to a story already defined by determination.
Stacey's husband, Rich, eventually lost his battle with cancer, leaving her to raise their two daughters and lead Craft Crushes, the company they had built together.
In our original interview, Stacey spoke candidly about the challenges of losing both her husband and business partner, who had played a major role in building relationships with retailers and distributors.
After his death, she assumed those responsibilities while continuing to manage production, grow the brand, and care for their young family.
She also made a promise to Rich that she would keep their shared dream alive.
Today, her mother's survival carries even greater meaning.
Reflecting on everything her family has endured, Stacey told PEOPLE:
"God or the universe saved her that day because they knew that I needed her."
A Story Worth Sharing
It's not every day that a story involving a local entrepreneur, a Towson hospital, and an extraordinary medical recovery captures the attention of a national publication.
But beyond the dramatic circumstances, this is a story about the importance of family, the dedication of medical professionals, and the resilience of people who continue moving forward through life's most difficult moments.
Watch the PEOPLE interview: I Was Clinically Dead for 45 Minutes — As My Daughter Gave Birth in the Same Hospital
Read our original profile: Co-Founder of Leading Maryland Craft Cocktail Continues to Thrive Despite Tragic Loss
Stacey Fifer pictured with her late husband Rich
