After suffering sudden acute liver failure during her Japan honeymoon, San Antonio labor and delivery nurse Sarah Danh, 27, has been medically evacuated and is on her way back to Texas.
Upon her return to San Antonio, Danh reportedly is expected to undergo a transplant surgery, according to Fox San Antonio’s Ryan Wolf. The update comes after Danh, recently wedded to Luke Grindl, suddenly fell ill just two days after she and her husband arrived in Japan.
“They were so excited to start celebrating their marriage together, looking forward to exploring a new country and making memories as newlyweds,” the creator of Danh’s GoFundMe, Danniella Ongmanchi, wrote in the donation description. “Being away from home during such a vulnerable time has been incredibly difficult for Sarah and her husband, Luke.”
An April 16 report from People stated that Danh struggled with several immediate symptoms after falling ill, including jaundice, vomiting, body aches and “extreme” hepatic encephalopathy. After being hospitalized, Danh’s condition worsened, according to her husband — her kidneys are failing, and she’s battling building intracranial pressure.
In an updated report, Gradl said medical staffers have been fighting to stabilize Danh’s condition so she could safely board the flight.
“The flight is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, and will require multiple stops along the way back to San Antonio,” he told People. He explained that “the flight is through AirMed, which is being provided through HCA and is affiliated with her work, Methodist Hospital.”
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Danh’s loved ones have stated they’re grateful for the “outpouring of love, kindness, and generosity” on her GoFundMe page. As of Tuesday, Danh’s GoFundMe has garnered nearly $167,000 in donations toward its $180,000 goal.
“We honestly didn’t expect this level of support, and it has lifted us up in ways we didn’t even know we needed,” Ongmanchi wrote. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and for holding Sarah in your thoughts.”