Texas Nurse in Critical Condition After Acute Liver Failure

In a distressing turn of events, Sarah Dunn, a critical care nurse from Texas, recently found herself in the hospital after suffering an acute liver failure. She was able to faintly nod when her mother held her hand and asked if she could hear her voice. Just a few days later, she was transported back to the U.S. on an emergency flight following her stroke.

At 27, Dunn arrived in San Antonio last Tuesday after a grueling 24-hour flight. This medical crisis came only two days post-honeymoon in Japan, where everything seemed fine initially.

While she remains in a coma, her uncle, Kang Le, shared what he called “reassuring news” during a Sunday update. “Sarah has been showing signs of improvement over the past few days,” he noted, expressing cautious optimism.

Despite still being on a ventilator, Dunn has begun taking a few weak breaths on her own, which Kang described as a hopeful sign. “This Sunday morning felt like the most hopeful day since we first found out Sarah was in the intensive care unit in Japan,” he added.

Family members gathered at her bedside, and Kang reported small but meaningful signs indicating Sarah was recognizing their presence. For instance, she gently held her mother’s hand, giving a faint nod when questioned about hearing her.

“These moments brought tears of joy and relief to her parents and our entire family,” he emphasized. The journey has been incredibly challenging, as Dunn’s parents learned that she had suffered a stroke, with doctors expressing concerns about the extent of her brain damage.

Describing the situation as heartbreaking, Kang mentioned that Dunn underwent another MRI scan, and there may be a chance some of the brain damage could be reversible. “This news has given Sarah’s parents, Luke, and everyone who loves her new strength and hope,” he said.

Kang continued, “Since then, Sarah has continued to show signs of gradual improvement and is slowly emerging from her coma.” Reflecting on their experience, he shared that he was taking it moment by moment, filled with hope for her recovery.

Dunn, who had just married her husband, Luke Gradle, on March 21st, described her wedding as a “dream wedding” before heading to Tokyo for their honeymoon on April 8th. According to Gradle, 28, they decided to take some time off to relax shortly after arriving, as Dunn wasn’t feeling well.

However, on April 9th, her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading them to rush her to the hospital just before midnight. She was later moved to the ICU due to life-threatening complications.

Interestingly, Dunn had appeared healthy during her wedding, and it was only later that she was diagnosed with acute liver failure despite showing no prior symptoms.

In addition to this, Gradle mentioned he experienced kidney failure and intracranial pressure during this ordeal. A GoFundMe campaign has since been created to help cover the costs, exceeding its original goal of $50,000, ultimately raising over $180,000 for hospital expenses and her flight back to the United States.