Just two days into their Japan honeymoon on April 9, newlyweds Sarah Danh and Luke Gradl encountered a devastating hardship — Danh, who works as a labor and delivery nurse in San Antonio, fell seriously ill.
“Sarah suddenly became very ill and was rushed to the ER, where she was diagnosed with acute liver failure,” a GoFundMe dedicated to her medical treatment reads. She is currently recovering in the hospital’s intensive care unit, “far from her loved ones, facing a medical crisis in a foreign country.”
The circumstances are difficult for several reasons, according to GoFundMe creator Danniella Ongmanchi. Not only is Danh far away from her home, family and loved ones, she and her husband Gradl must face steep financial worries.
“In Japan, hospital bills must be paid in full or treatments will be stopped, which adds another layer of stress to an already overwhelming situation,” Ongmanchi wrote. She noted that any funds raised will go directly toward covering Danh’s hospital bill, securing flights home for the couple and other recovery expenses.
According to an April 16 report from People, Danh struggled with several symptoms during her initial diagnosis, including jaundice, vomiting, body aches and “extreme” hepatic encephalopathy. Since being diagnosed Danh’s condition has worsened, according to her husband —her kidneys are failing, and she’s struggling with intracranial brain pressure.
“She is on 24/7 CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy), dialysis, blood transfusions, and plasma exchanges,” Gradl told People. According to Danh’s GoFundMe page, every dollar donated will “help ease the financial burden and give Sarah the best chance to heal and return home safely.”
As of Friday, Danh’s GoFundMe has garnered nearly $135,000 in donations toward its $180,000 goal.