Gal Gadot underwent ‘terrifying’ emergency surgery while 8 months pregnant
When Gal Gadot announced the birth of her fourth daughter earlier this year, she revealed that the pregnancy “was not easy,” but they “made it through.”
The 39-year-old “Wonder Woman” actress chose not to elaborate on what made the pregnancy so difficult — until now.
On Dec. 29, Gadot took to Instagram to share a photo of her breastfeeding the newborn in a hospital bed after the birth.
“This year has been one of profound challenges and deep reflections,” she wrote in the lengthy caption.
“I’ve wrestled with how, or even if, to share a personal story. At the end, I decided to let my heart guide me,” she continued.
Her daughter, Ori, was born sometime before March 6 and joins the “Red Notice” star’s three other daughters — Alma, Maya and Daniella — whom she shares with husband Jaron Varsano.
In her recent Instagram post, Gadot reveals that she was diagnosed with a “massive blood clot” in her brain in February, during her eighth month of pregnancy.
“I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth,” she explains in the caption.
“In one moment, my family and I were faced with how fragile life can be. It was a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change, and in the midst of a difficult year, all I wanted was to hold on and live,” she added.
Gadot underwent immediate emergency surgery after being rushed to the hospital, followed by a period of “uncertainty and fear” for what the future would hold.
And it was during that period that she gave birth to Ori.
“Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance,” Gadot continues.
“Before the surgery, I told Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel,” she added.
Gadot proceeded to thank her “extraordinary team of doctors” for their weeks of dedicated care that led her down the road to recovery.
“Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back,” she wrote.
Further explaining the magnitude of the blood clot, Gadot left her fans and followers with some words of advice.
First, she says, “it’s vital to listen to our bodies and trust what it’s telling us.”
Gadot urged her fans to not write off pain and discomfort as normal, arguing that “even subtle changes often carry deeper meaning, and being attuned to your body can be life saving.”
The second thing she learned from her blood clot was that “awareness matters.”
“I had no idea that 3 in 100,000 pregnant women in the 30s+ age group are diagnosed with CVT,” she wrote.
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a “rare medical condition characterized by the formation of a blood clot in the cerebral veins or dural sinuses,” according to Yale Medicine.
“It’s so important to identify early because it’s treatable. While rare, it’s a possibility, and knowing it exists is the first step to addressing it,” Gadot continued in the caption.
Gadot clarified that she doesn’t want to frighten anyone with her story, but rather wants to “empower” others who might be going through something similar.
“If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing,” she concluded.
Many of her fans were quick to call her a true Wonder Woman in the comment section, referring to her role as Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films.
“Wonder woman in movies and a wonder woman in real life,” one fan commented.
Gadot continued her message in her Instagram Stories, where she described giving birth as a miracle and “testament to the strength and resilience of our bodies and spirits.”
“But it also demands so much from us, reminding us to care for ourselves as fiercely as we care for others,” she added.
