A Texas nurse has made an astonishing recovery after being flown back to the U.S. following a severe health crisis during her honeymoon in Japan.
Sarah Danh, aged 27, found herself in a Tokyo emergency room just 48 hours after she and her husband, Luke Gradl, 28, began their dream trip.
Doctors diagnosed her with acute liver and kidney failure, as well as increased intracranial pressure, as she battled symptoms like jaundice, vomiting, fever, body aches, and severe hepatic encephalopathy—a significant decline in brain function due to liver disease.
Before her medical evacuation to Texas, where she serves as a labor and delivery nurse, Danh also suffered a stroke, potentially resulting in bilateral brain damage.
Her family was initially cautioned by doctors that she might remain in a coma or never regain normal functionality, despite undergoing a transplant operation on April 21.
Defying these grim predictions, Danh’s uncle, Khang Le, posted a photo on Monday showing her awake and smiling from her hospital bed, marking a remarkable turnaround.
On the wall next to her were signs that read ‘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 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 for their honeymoon last month
Her uncle shared a photo on Monday of Danh sitting up in her hospital bed and smiling
‘Sarah’s recovery continues to feel nothing short of a miracle,’ Khang posted on Monday, as he shared 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.’
‘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 to be expected.
In the meantime, he said, Danh’s care team is continuing to monitor her.
Khang has provided updates on his niece’s condition since she returned to the Lone Star State last month.
He said she first started to show ‘signs of improvement’ on April 26, when she started taking ‘a few weak breaths on her own,’ even though she remained hooked up to a breathing machine.
Danh works as a labor and delivery nurse at Methodist Hospital Stone Oak in San Antonio
She was diagnosed with acute liver failure at a hospital in Japan
She started to show ‘signs of improvement’ late last month, when she gently squeezed her mother’s hand
Khang also said at the time that Danh had given the family ‘small but deeply meaningful signs’ that she knows they are by her side as they hoped ‘she may 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.’
Then on April 30, Khang announced that Danh was no longer on life support and was able to breathe on her own.
‘She has also been able to wiggle her toes and move her arms,’ the worried uncle wrote, adding that doctors helped her stand that morning – and she was even able to ‘take a few small steps’ with assistance.
But, Khang said at the time, ‘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 had originally been warned that Danh may never wake up from a coma or regain normal function
Her family thanked everyone for their continued ‘heartfelt support and prayers’
Family members also discovered at the time that her memory had been affected by the sudden liver failure.
‘She has been able to express discomfort, sadness and happiness, and she smiles, cries and even giggles when I say silly things to get a reaction from her,’ Khang shared. ‘Her emotions seem to be present, but they often come and go.’
Danh is now set to undergo physical and cognitive therapy at TIRR Rehabilitation in Houston, her uncle said.
‘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 the family with medical expenses was paused when it reached more than $187,000.
It had an initial goal of just $50,000.
