San Antonio Nurse Shows Signs of Improvement After Honeymoon Medical Crisis

According to Danh's uncle Khang Le, his niece has been showing signs of improvement since being medically evacuated from Tokyo back to a San Antonio hospital.

The Central Texas nurse who was medically evacuated from her Japan honeymoon last week "has shown signs of improvement" despite remaining in a coma, family members say.

The family of San Antonio labor and delivery nurse Sarah Danh, 27, also revealed she suffered a stroke before her flight to Texas. Danh, who recently married Luke Gradl, fell ill without warning just two days after the couple arrived in Japan. She was diagnosed with sudden liver failure and had to undergo transplant surgery upon her return to San Antonio on April 21.

In a Facebook post, family member Khang Le described April 26 as "the most hopeful day we have had since we first learned Sarah was in the ICU in Japan."

"Sarah has also given us small but deeply meaningful signs that she is aware of her family's presence," Le continued. "She gently squeezed her mom's hand while her mom stood beside her, and she faintly nodded when asked if she could hear. These moments brought tears of joy and relief to her parents and our entire family."

Le also said that while Danh is still on a breathing machine, "she has begun taking a few weak breaths on her own."

Newlywed suffered stroke in Japan, family says

Sarah Danh and Luke Gradl were married on March 21 before Danh fell critically ill during their Japan honeymoon.

Prior to these hopeful signs of recovery, Le says the family received "devastating news": An MRI conducted after Danh's return to the U.S. revealed she'd suffered a stroke while in Japan, which is believed to have caused severe bilateral brain damage. Medical staff "warned that she might not wake up or regain normal function," Le says.

Another MRI, taken a day later, suggested some of the damage may be reversible. Danh's family was told it was too early to determine what her recovery would look like. Nonetheless, Le says the family remains hopeful.

"Our family would also like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out, prayed, donated, and supported us during this unimaginable time," Le's post reads. "We are truly grateful for the compassion, generosity, and prayers we have received. Lastly, I want to thank both our family and Luke's family for coming together in unity to support Sarah every step of the way."

GoFundMe halted after nearly quadrupling goal

A previous report from People says Danh suffered a "life-threatening health decline" on April 9, with several immediate symptoms including jaundice, vomiting, body aches and "extreme" hepatic encephalopathy. After being hospitalized, Danh's condition worsened, according to her husband — her kidneys were failing, and she was battling increasing intracranial pressure.

Danh had been unable to be evacuated until her condition stabilized.

An online fundraiser was created to help with Danh's hospital bills, her family's flights and "any other urgent expenses." In Japan, policy requires hospital bills to be paid in full. If they go unpaid, treatments will be halted.

AirMed and Danh's employer, Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, worked with HCA Healthcare to arrange Danh's flight back to Texas.

Donations for the GoFundMe were paused after contributions exceeded $187,000. The initial goal was $50,000.