Woman woke up moments before organ harvesting operation as doctors told to 'do it anyway'
Organ donation co-ordinators allegedly attempted to push through with a retrieval operation on a US woman, despite her waking up moments before.
In 2022, Danella Gallegos was rushed to hospital after an undisclosed medical emergency led to her falling into a coma.
Gallegos' family was then informed that she had no chance of regaining consciousness, prompting her family to agree to organ donation.
However, as doctors at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, prepared the then 38-year-old for surgery, something extraordinary happened.
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In the days leading up to the retrieval, Gallegos' relatives reported seeing tears in her eyes. However, this was brushed off as an 'involuntary reflex' by co-ordinators.
On the day of surgery, the woman's sisters then reported seeing her move after life support was removed.
Gallegos was then asked to blink by a doctors, which she responded to by doing so, prompting the family to believe there was still hope.
Despite showing signs of life, procurement officials from New Mexico Donor Services allegedly pushed for the operation to remove her organs to go ahead anyway – which the hospital refused.
Gallegos has since been able to make a full recovery and has spoken to the New York Times about the incident, recalling that she felt fear while in the hospital.
"I feel so fortunate, obviously," she explained, "But it’s also crazy to think how close things came to ending differently."
When approached for comment, Presbyterian Hospital, where Gallegos had received treatment in 2022, told the NYT that an investigation had been launched into her case and suggested the donor service pursued 'aggressive' retrieval tactics – claims which the organisation has denied.
Meanwhile, New Mexico Donor Services, which says it is committed to 'saving and preserving lives' of the two million residents of living in the state, said they did not interfere with medical decision making.
Gallegos' case isn't unique, with a man from the state of Kentucky finding himself in a similar situation in October 2021.
Thomas 'TJ' Hoover II had been declared brain dead after suffering a drug overdose and was scheduled to undergo an operation to retrieve his heart for donation.
However, a member of staff on duty that day noticed that Hoover was 'thrashing' and 'crying visibly' when wheeled into the room.
Despite showing signs of life, doctors at the hospital alleged that Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) had pushed to go ahead with the operation – which the company denied.
Meanwhile, Hoover, like Gallegos, was later able to recover and now lives with his sister Donna Rhorer.
And a third woman, named Misty Hawkins, would have her life support removed before being wheeled into the operating theatre for organ removal.
However, when doctors sawed into the 42-year-old's breastplate, they discovered her heart was still beating.
Tragically, Hawkins would not survive and would later pass away.
LADbible Group has approached Presbyterian Hospital and New Mexico Donor Services for further comment.
Brenna Cooper