Gal Gadot with her fourth child Ori. Photo:
Gal Gadot/instagram
Gal Gadot is opening up about a life-threatening health crisis she experienced while pregnant with her fourth child.
The Wonder Woman actress, 39, detailed the “terrifying” event in an Instagram post on Sunday, Dec. 29, revealing that she was diagnosed with a “massive blood clot” in her brain during her eighth month of pregnancy.
“For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth,” the star 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 shared that she was rushed to the hospital where she underwent emergency surgery and also gave birth to her daughter Ori, now 9 months old, during the procedure in March.
“Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance,” Gadot wrote of Ori. “Before the surgery, I told [my husband] Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel.”
Gadot then went on to thank the “extraordinary team of doctors” at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.
Gal Gadot in 2023. Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty
The Heart of Stone actress — who wrote in the post that she is now “fully healed” — urged people to listen to their bodies.
“Pain, discomfort or even subtle changes often carry a deeper meaning, and being attuned to your body can be life saving,” she continued, adding that “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). 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 wrote.
The mother of four reassured her fans that she did not intend to “frighten anyone” with her post, but rather hopes to “empower” them.
“If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing,” she concluded, while noting that she hopes sharing her personal experience will pull “back the curtain on the fragile reality behind the curated moments we share on social media.”
The Red Notice actress also shared the post on her Instagram Stories and included a link to an informational page about strokes from the American Heart Association.
Gal Gadot and husband Jaron Varsano. Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Gadot initially announced the birth of her fourth child on Instagram in March, though she made no mention of the harrowing medical situation at the time.
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“My sweet girl, welcome,” Gadot captioned a photo of herself cradling Ori in a hospital bed at the time.
“The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through,” she continued, adding, “You have brought so much light into our lives, living up to your name, Ori, which means ‘my light’ in Hebrew. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Welcome to the house of girls.. 👯♀️👯♀️ daddy is pretty cool too 😉❤️.”
Gadot, who is married to film producer Jaron Varsano, is also mom to Alma, 13, Maya, 7, and Daniella, 3.
