Archive · 7 Aug 2025
Woman Wakes Up Before Organ Retrieval Surgery In New Mexico
In 2022, a woman named Danella Gallegos was in a coma after a medical emergency.
Doctors told her family she wouldn't wake up, so the family agreed to donate her organs.
However, before the operation, family members noticed she was showing signs of life, like moving and blinking.
Despite this, the organ donation organization allegedly wanted to proceed with the surgery.
Luckily, the hospital staff stopped it.
Gallegos woke up fully and recovered.
The hospital is investigating what happened, while the organ donation organization says they did nothing wrong.
Danella Gallegos was in a coma after a medical emergency in 2022.
Doctors informed the family that Gallegos would not recover, prompting consent for organ donation.
Family observed signs of life before the procedure, which were initially dismissed.
Gallegos regained consciousness as organ retrieval was about to begin.
An internal investigation was launched by Presbyterian Hospital; New Mexico Donor Services denies any wrongdoing.
- Who
- Danella Gallegos and medical staff at Presbyterian Hospital and New Mexico Donor Services.
- What
- A woman woke from a coma moments before organ retrieval surgery.
- When
- In 2022, and in the days leading up to the planned surgery.
- Where
- Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
- Why
- The reason is related to the disagreement between medical professionals on whether the patient should be taken off life support.
Presbyterian Hospital
New Mexico Donor Services
Retrieval Tactics
Presbyterian Hospital
Suggesting aggressive retrieval tactics were possibly pursued.
New Mexico Donor Services
N/A
- Patient
- Danella Gallegos
- Location
- Presbyterian Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Year
- 2022
- Incident
- Organ retrieval procedure halted
- Hospital Response
- Launched internal investigation
- Donor Services Response
- Denies wrongdoing