Bride makes emergency flight back to US after suffering 'life-threatening' illness on honeymoon in Japan

Published: 07:07, 22 April 2026 | Updated: 07:17, 22 April 2026 A Texas nurse who had just experienced her 'dream wedding' suffered a nightmare when she was rushed to the emergency room on her honeymoon in Japan. Sarah Danh, 27, married Luke Gradl, 28, on March 21 in what Gradl described to PEOPLE as Danh's 'dream wedding.'  But just two days after the newlyweds arrived in Tokyo for their honeymoon, Danh was admitted into the emergency room and diagnosed with acute liver failure. 'When we arrived at the hotel the afternoon of April 8, she was not feeling well,' he recounted. 'So we decided to rest that day, because we had 16 total days in Japan, so we could afford to rest half a day. 'April 9, things started to go bad very quickly, so I immediately took her to the hospital just before midnight when we were admitted to the emergency room, and the next day moved to the ICU because of [her] life-threatening health decline.' Danh, who herself works as a labor and delivery nurse, has since suffered from symptoms including jaundice, vomiting, fever, body aches and 'extreme' hepatic encephalopathy - a serious decline in brain function caused by severe liver disease.  When the liver is unable to filter toxins from the blood, they build up and affect the brain's ability to function, which can lead to unresponsiveness, coma or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. At the same time, Gradl said, Danh was experiencing failing kidneys and intracranial brain pressure - on top of her acute liver failure. Sarah Danh, 27, married Luke Gradl, 28, on March 21 in what Gradl described as Danh's 'dream wedding that she worked tirelessly on every day for over a year' The couple were just two days into their honeymoon in Japan when Danh was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with acute liver failure The shocking health decline came without any warning, Gradl said, noting that she seemed perfectly healthy at the wedding. Gradl has remained by his new wife's side in the weeks since Danh was admitted to the hospital. Her mother, Le Le, also joined the couple in Japan to offer 'moral support,' as the newlyweds battled a foreign healthcare system. An online fundraiser to help them with their medical bills noted that '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 fundraiser, which has netted over $173,500 for the couple, also sought donations to help them pay for a medical flight to bring Danh back to the United States. Their prayers were finally answered this week, as they announced Danh was being flown from Japan back to Texas in a medical evacuation flight that was scheduled to land on Tuesday - exactly one month after the couple exchanged vows. Video obtained by News 4 San Antonio showed Danh strapped onto a stretcher on a runway in Japan, surrounded by monitors, machines and a medical team working to keep her stable for the flight. A transplant team will then be waiting for Danh's arrival when she lands back in the United States. Danh was being flown from Japan back to Texas in a medical evacuation flight that was scheduled to land on Tuesday Danh's flight back home was organized by AirMed and Danh's employer, Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, as well as HCA Healthcare. Gradl and Le, Danh's mother, said the companies' generosity means more to us than we can put into words. 'A huge thank you to the medical team in Japan - the doctors and nurses who worked nonstop to keep Sarah stable up until evacuation. We'll never forget your care and dedication,' they said in a statement. 'To the AirMed team, thank you for moving so quickly and making everything come together when it really mattered most. You made a real difference for us. 'We're also so thankful to the team in San Antonio for being ready and waiting for Sarah,' the family added. 'Knowing she was going into such good hands brought us peace during a very uncertain time.' The family also said they are 'beyond grateful to those who have prayed or donated to support Danh's recovery. Gradl, her new husband, has stayed by her side as she remained in the Intensive Care Unit 'Whether we know you personally or you reached out from somewhere far away, your kindness, prayers and support helped carry us through one of the hardest times in our lives. You gave us comfort, strength and hope when we needed it most. 'And most of all, thank you to our family for being there every step of the way. Your love and support kept us going through it all. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us.'  But even though Danh is now set to return home and is in stable condition, she is not yet out of the woods as the cause of her sudden health decline is still unclear. Her family said further medical testing and evaluations will take place once she is back in the US. The Daily Mail has reached out to AirMed, Methodist Hospital Stone Oak and HCA Healthcare for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. 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