Comatose woman woke before organ harvesting surgery but 'docs operated anyway'

An organ donation operationpushed for the removal of a comatose woman's body parts after she showed signs of life, medics claim.

Danella Gallegos was homeless when shesuffered an unspecified medical emergency that left her in a coma at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2022.

Her family was devastated when they were told she would never recover, and they decided to donate her organs to save the life of someone else in need. It comes after a mum a left 16-month-old home alone to die when she went on holiday.

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Preparations were made with the New Mexico Donor Services, which says it serves two million people in the state by "connecting organ and tissue donations to the patients who need them".

But in the lead up to the donation date, her family reported seeing tears forming in her eyes - which they thought showed signs of life. They told the donation co-ordinators, who brushed it off by saying it was simply a reflex.

On the day of the donation, her sister saw Danella moving while holding her hand - which convinced her that her sister was still sentient.

Then, before her surgery, medics witnessed Danella blink on their command while deep in a coma, leaving them stunned.

A New York Times report detailed how the pushy organ co-ordinator told the doctors she should be plied with morphine so they could continue with the procedure.

Defying the co-ordinator, the doctors took Danella out of surgery in a decision that saved her life.

Danella went on to make a full recovery.

"I feel so fortunate," she said. Danella says the only thing she remembers from the coma is feeling a sense of fear.

"But it’s also crazy to think how close things came to ending differently."

The donation service has denied claims from hospital workers that they were pressured into continuing the procedure despite their doubts.

The service says it doesn't interfere in medical decisions, adding that it is hospitals that are responsible for the care of patients.

Presbyterian Hospital denied their claims, saying that the service was actually solely responsible for all aspects of the process, and that it has launched a probe into the circumstances around Danella's case.

One veteran intensive care nurse at the Presbyterian said: "All they care about is getting organs. They’re so aggressive. It’s sickening.'

The Mirror has contacted the New Mexico Donor Services for comment.

It comes after a number of similar cases have put the spotlight on the organ donation process in the US.

Anthony Hoover, who was set to be taken off life support and have his organs removed in 2021, woke up suddenly moments before. He suffered sever neurological injuries but survived.

Tragically, Misty Hawkins, 42, did not survive hers. She spent weeks in a coma last year before her family decided to donate her organs, and doctors had already sawed into her breastplate when they realised she was still alive