Sarah Danh, a 27-year-old labor and delivery nurse from San Antonio, Texas, suffered acute liver failure while on her honeymoon in Japan and was rushed home for a liver transplant, according to her husband Luke Gradl and uncle Khang Le.
Danh left for Japan with her husband, Luke Gradl, on April 7, according to her uncle Khang Le. Two days into the trip, she was rushed to an emergency room with symptoms including jaundice, vomiting, fever, body aches and extreme hepatic encephalopathy, Gradl told People magazine. She was admitted to an intensive care unit in Japan before being flown home on a flight lasting over 20 hours, according to her uncle, Khang Le.
Over the past few days, Sarah Danh has shown signs of improvement.
An MRI later revealed that Danh had suffered a stroke before returning home, resulting in severe bilateral brain damage, Le said in a social media post. "Doctors told her parents and Luke that she had suffered a stroke before returning home, resulting in what appeared to be severe bilateral brain damage," Le wrote. "At that time, they warned that she might not wake up or regain normal function. This was heartbreaking for all of us, especially for her parents, Le Le and Danny Le."
Despite the grim diagnosis, Danh has shown signs of improvement in recent days, according to her uncle Khang Le. "Over the past few days, Sarah Danh has shown signs of improvement," Le wrote on Facebook. "While still on the breathing machine, she has begun taking a few weak breaths on her own. This Sunday morning felt like the most hopeful day we have had since we first learned Sarah was in the ICU in Japan." Le added that Danh squeezed her mother's hand and nodded when asked if she could hear. "These moments brought tears of joy and relief to her parents and our entire family," he said.
While still on the breathing machine, she has begun taking a few weak breaths on her own. This Sunday morning felt like the most hopeful day we have had since we first learned Sarah was in the ICU in Japan.
A GoFundMe campaign set up for Danh has raised more than $187,000 as of Monday evening, according to the fundraising page. An update on the page noted that she "is making good progress in her recovery back home but still remains in critical condition."
The cause of Danh's acute liver failure remains unclear, and it is not known whether she has received a transplant. Doctors have not disclosed a long-term prognosis, given the extent of her brain damage.
She gently squeezed her mom's hand while her mom stood beside her, and she faintly nodded when asked if she could hear. These moments brought tears of joy and relief to her parents and our entire family.
Doctors told her parents and Luke that she had suffered a stroke before returning home, resulting in what appeared to be severe bilateral brain damage.
At that time, they warned that she might not wake up or regain normal function. This was heartbreaking for all of us, especially for her parents, Le Le and Danny Le.
small but deeply meaningful signs