A Texas nurse who was airlifted back to the United States after suffering a life-threatening illness while on her dream honeymoon in Japan has undergone a 'miraculous' recovery. Sarah Danh, 27, was admitted to an emergency room in Tokyo just two days after she and her new husband, Luke Gradl, 28, arrived in the city.
Diagnosis and Complications
She was diagnosed with acute liver failure, kidney failure, and intracranial brain pressure as she suffered from symptoms including jaundice, vomiting, fever, body aches, and 'extreme' hepatic encephalopathy—a serious decline in brain function caused by severe liver disease. Just before she was airlifted back to Texas, where she works as a labor and delivery nurse, Danh also suffered a stroke, believed to have caused bilateral brain damage. Doctors warned her family she might never wake up from a coma or regain normal function, even as she underwent transplant surgery on April 21.
Remarkable Progress
But Danh has seemingly beaten the odds. Her uncle, Khang Le, shared a photo of the nurse awake and smiling in her hospital bed on Monday. On the wall next to her were signs reading 'Welcome Home Sarah' with messages from her colleagues at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak in San Antonio, along with others wishing for her to 'Get well soon.'
'Sarah's recovery continues to feel nothing short of a miracle,' Khang posted on Monday, sharing an update from Danh's mother, Le Le, and father, Danny Le. 'She has progressed faster than anyone anticipated and we are incredibly grateful for the outstanding care she has received—especially from the medical team at Methodist Hospital and the liver specialist at Methodist Transplant Hospital.'
Milestones and Gratitude
'One of the most meaningful milestones has been her ability to remember, recognize and communicate with family and friends,' he continued. 'Physically, she is gaining strength each day and making steady, encouraging progress.' Khang also wrote that his niece's liver is 'stable,' though some fluctuations in liver function are expected. In the meantime, her care team continues to monitor her.
Previous Updates
Khang has provided updates on his niece's condition since she returned to Texas last month. He said she first started to show 'signs of improvement' on April 26, when she began taking 'a few weak breaths on her own,' even while still on a breathing machine. He also mentioned that Danh had given the family 'small but deeply meaningful signs' that she knows they are by her side, as they hoped she might be slowly emerging from the coma. 'She gently squeezed her mom's hand while her mom stood beside her, and she faintly nodded when asked if she could hear,' Khang wrote. 'These moments brought tears of joy and relief to her parents and our entire family.'
On April 30, Khang announced that Danh was no longer on life support and could breathe on her own. 'She has also been able to wiggle her toes and move her arms,' he wrote, adding that doctors helped her stand that morning, and she even managed to 'take a few small steps' with assistance. However, he noted, 'Although her physical condition is improving, she is still far from being able to do basic things such as taking a sip of water, eating, controlling her fingers, opening her mouth or saying any words.' Family members also discovered that her memory had been affected by the sudden liver failure.
Rehabilitation and Support
Danh is now set to undergo physical and cognitive therapy at TIRR Rehabilitation in Houston. 'We are deeply thankful for how far she has come and remain hopeful and optimistic about what lies ahead,' he wrote on Facebook Monday. The post concluded with the family thanking everyone for their continued 'heartfelt support and prayers' after an online fundraiser to help with medical expenses was paused when it reached more than $187,000, far exceeding its initial goal of $50,000.
