Gal Gadot underwent emergency surgery for 'massive' blood clot in her brain in 8th month of pregnancy
"In one moment, my family and I were faced with how fragile life can be," the "Wonder Woman" star revealed.
Emma McIntyre/Getty
Gal GadotGal Gadot has revealed that she underwent emergency brain surgery in February after discovering a “massive” blood clot while she was pregnant with her fourth daughter, Ori.
The Wonder Woman star, 39, opened up about her health scare in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, explaining that she chose to share her story as a way of both “processing everything” and to “raise awareness and support others” who may find themselves suddenly navigating similar situations.
“In February, during my eighth month of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my brain. 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.”
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The Red Notice actress, who shares four daughters with her husband Jaron Varsano, explained that she was then rushed to the hospital “and within hours, I underwent emergency surgery” in order to treat the clot. She added, “My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear.”
Gadot noted that she has since recovered from the terrifying incident. “Thanks to an extraordinary team of doctors at @cedarssinai and weeks of dedicated care, I made it through and began the road to recovery,” she continued. “Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back.”
She also shared what the health scare taught her. “First, it’s vital to listen to our bodies and trust what it’s telling us. Pain, discomfort, or even subtle changes often carry deeper meaning, and being attuned to your body can be life saving,” Gadot wrote. “Second, awareness matters. 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).”
CVT, or cerebral venous thrombosis, is described by Boston Children’s Hospital as a “rare but serious condition” that occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood within the veins of the brain. In her post, Gadot stressed that it was important to identify the condition as early as possible because it is 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,” she concluded. “If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing.”
Alongside her post, Gadot shared an image of her laying in a hospital bed and breastfeeding one of her children. While the post's comment section has since been limited, it is filled with messages of love and support fans and friends including January Jones and Sacha Baron Cohen, who both commented red heart emojis.
Her fellow Justice League costar Jason Momoa, wrote, “oh mama we love u.” While Meadow Walker, the daughter of Gadot's Fast & Furious costar Paul Walker, added, "We love u."
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