Gal Gadot is opening up about her experience undergoing emergency surgery for a blood clot in her brain during pregnancy, which then resulted in the birth of her fourth daughter.
In a post on social media on Sunday night, the “Wonder Woman” and “Fast and Furious” actor revealed that she was diagnosed with a “massive” blood clot in her brain in her eighth month of pregnancy with daughter Ori, who was born in March.
“For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth,” Gadot wrote. “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.”
Gadot was then “rushed to the hospital” and underwent emergency surgery, during which Ori was born. “Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance,” Gadot continued. “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. Thanks to an extraordinary team of doctors at @cedarssinai and weeks of dedicated care, I made it through and began the road to recovery. Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back.”
She said she decided to share her story at the end of the year to bring awareness to others who may encounter the same condition. “I had no idea that 3 in 100,000 pregnant women in the 30s+ age group are diagnosed with CVT (develop a blood clot in the brain),” Gadot wrote. “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. Sharing this is not meant to frighten anyone but to empower. If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing.”
Gadot, who shares four daughters with husband Jaron Varsano, will next be seen on screen in Disney’s live-action “Snow White” as the Evil Queen.
