‘She squeezed her mom’s hand’: San Antonio nurse shows signs of life after coma
What began as a honeymoon in Japan turned into a life-threatening medical crisis for a San Antonio nurse, and now, for the first time, her family is speaking publicly about her fight to survive.
Sarah Danh, 27, a labor and delivery nurse at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, went into sudden acute liver failure just days into her trip to Tokyo with her husband, Luke Gradl. Within hours, she was placed on life support in a foreign country, leaving her family scrambling for answers from thousands of miles away.
“It’s been stressful, and it’s up a lot, a lot down and a few days up,” her uncle, Khang Le, said in an exclusive interview.
Danh’s family describes the ordeal as an emotional rollercoaster, especially for her parents, who were told early on that she might not survive.
“Very sad, stressful, especially for my sister, Lele and her husband Danny they’re pretty devastated,” Le said.
Danh is known by family and patients as someone who dedicated her life to caring for others.
“Sarah, she is one of the kindest person that you meet she’s a delivery nurse, and they said such a nice, kind things about her,” Le said.
Loved ones say patients have since taken to social media, sharing stories about the care she provided during some of the most important moments of their lives.
Before becoming a nurse, Danh was a competitive figure skater. After suffering an injury, she shifted her focus to helping others, eventually finding her calling in healthcare.
Just weeks ago, she was celebrating her wedding in Canyon Lake.
“The wedding was beautiful she was so happy dancing with her new husband,” Le said.
Then came the call that changed everything.
“She said, did you know Sarah just got admitted to ICU in Japan? she was diagnosed with acute liver failure,” Le said.
Danh, described as healthy and active, showed no warning signs.
“This was a complete shock,” Le said.
Her condition quickly deteriorated. She was unable to breathe on her own, and doctors determined her liver was failing.
“She wasn’t breathing on her own the liver toxic level was very, very high they declared that she had a liver failure,” Le said.
The family worked urgently to bring her back to Texas, but the process was delayed for days due to weather complications.
“There was a typhoon they had to delay by like five days we were nervous and scared that it take too long to get her home,” Le said.
Danh was eventually medically evacuated on a flight that took more than 20 hours with multiple stops to refuel.
“It was a relief, but yet it was very nerve wracking anything could happen,” Le said.
Once back in San Antonio, doctors at Methodist Hospital delivered more devastating news.
“They told her she had bilateral brain damage and that she might not wake up or regain normal function,” Le said.
But in recent days, there have been small but significant signs of improvement.
“She was holding her hand and Sarah squeezed her hand she shot screaming with joy,” Le said, describing the moment Danh’s mother felt her respond.
Le said he also witnessed it himself.
“I grabbed her hand I asked her do you know who I am and she nodded her head, and she squeezed my hand,” he said.
Doctors say her liver function is now improving, raising hopes that she may not need a transplant.
“They claim that the numbers has gone down and right now, they say it doesn’t appear that she needs a transplant,” Le said.
Danh remains in critical condition, but her family says the progress has given them something they did not have just days ago — hope.
They also credit the overwhelming support from the community, including prayers and donations shared through social media.
“We are so grateful whether it’s prayer or encouragement or donation people come together and support people,” Le said.
For now, the family is asking for continued prayers as Danh continues her fight to recover.
Để lại một bình luận