A new bride is being rushed back to the U.S. after her honeymoon in Japan turned into a terrifying medical emergency.
Sarah Danh, 27, has been hospitalized in critical care for nearly two weeks after she suffered acute liver failure on the second day of her trip to Japan, according to a GoFundMe for the newlyweds.
Danh took an emergency medical evacuation flight that landed Tuesday night in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, 28-year-old Luke Gradl, according to People.
Her mother, Le Le, flew back to the U.S. separately after she had joined the couple in Japan for “moral support,” the outlet reported.
“A huge thank you to the medical team in Japan — the doctors and nurses who worked nonstop to keep Sarah stable up until evacuation,” Gradl and Le said in a statement to the outlet. “We’ll never forget your care and dedication. To the AirMed team, thank you for moving so quickly and making everything come together when it mattered most. You made a real difference for us.”
Their statement continued, “We’re also so thankful to the team in San Antonio for being ready and waiting for Sarah. Knowing she was going into such good hands brought us peace during a very uncertain time.”
Danh and Gradl’s GoFundMe has raised over $175,000 for her medical funds.
The fundraiser, which launched April 11, said the bride and groom had been married for a week when they went to Japan as their “dream honeymoon trip.”
“They were so excited to start celebrating their marriage together, looking forward to exploring a new country and making memories as newlyweds,” the page said. “But while in Japan only for two days, Sarah suddenly became very ill and was rushed to the ER, where she was diagnosed with acute liver failure.”
The page noted, “Being away from home during such a vulnerable time has been incredibly difficult for Sarah and her husband, Luke, as they try to navigate the uncertainty and worry together.
“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,” the GoFundMe continued.
An update posted to the page revealed that Danh would require a liver transplant.
“Every donation, every message, every share it all reminds us that we’re not alone in this,” the latest update read in part. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us and for holding Sarah in your thoughts.”
