Texas nurse critically ill with liver failure on Japan honeymoon

Sarah Danh, a 27-year-old nurse from Texas, was diagnosed with acute liver failure in Japan after being rushed to the emergency room. According to Daily Mail - News, her husband Luke Gradl described that when they arrived at their hotel on April 8, she was not feeling well, and by April 9 her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to an ICU admission. Gradl reported she suffered from jaundice, vomiting, fever, body aches, and extreme hepatic encephalopathy, though she had shown no health signs at their wedding. The couple had left for their honeymoon on April 7.

Danh required 24/7 continuous renal replacement therapy, dialysis, blood transfusions, and plasma exchanges. A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to help pay for medical expenses, as hospital bills in Japan must be paid in full or treatments stop; it has raised over $165,000 in donations. Danh was being prepped for a flight home to Texas on Monday, with her uncle Khang Le saying the journey home was the most critical part of her recovery. She was unconscious and lying on a stretcher on the runway awaiting to board her flight home. According to Khang Le, the flight home was over 20 hours with three refueling stops, and although Japanese and American medical staff prepared her, the risk was still incredibly high. He added that medical staff worked to minimize mid-air emergency risks, but the risk was worth taking for any chance of recovery. Danh's mother, Le Le, arrived in Japan on April 13 to support her daughter and Gradl, stating they are thankful for all the love and support.

The cause of Danh's acute liver failure remains unknown, and it is unclear if she has successfully arrived in Texas or received a liver transplant. Her current condition after the flight and the specific Texas hospital or treatments planned are also not confirmed.