Comatose Woman Awakens Just Before Scheduled Organ Harvest

Danella Gallegos, a 38-year-old woman, experienced a medical crisis in 2022 that left her in a coma. During her time in the hospital at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, medical personnel assured her family that she would not regain consciousness or recover, leading the family to consent to organ donation in order to help others.

As preparations were underway for the organ harvesting, Danella's family noticed that she had tears streaming down her face, a sign they believed indicated awareness. However, they were told by the donation coordinator that this reaction was merely a reflex. On the day of the surgery, her sister reported seeing her move and, to everyone's astonishment, Danella was able to blink in response to a medic’s prompts, showing signs of consciousness and awareness, which raised further questions about the team's initial conclusion. The Express has sought a response from Presbyterian Hospital regarding this incident.