Gal Gadot Reveals She Had a 'Massive Blood Clot' in Her Brain During Pregnancy: 'All I Wanted Was to Hold on and Live'

Published: Dec 31 2024

Gal Gadot, the iconic Wonder Woman actress, has bravely unveiled a harrowing health scare she faced during her pregnancy with her fourth child. On Sunday, December 29th, the 39-year-old opened up about the "terrifying" ordeal in an emotional Instagram post, revealing that she had been diagnosed with a "massive blood clot" in her brain during her eighth month of pregnancy.

Gal Gadot Reveals She Had a 'Massive Blood Clot' in Her Brain During Pregnancy: 'All I Wanted Was to Hold on and Live' 1

"For weeks, I was plagued by unbearable headaches that confined me to my bed," Gadot wrote. "It wasn't until I underwent an MRI that the harrowing truth was revealed. In an instant, my family and I were confronted with the fragility of life. It served as a stark reminder of how swiftly everything can change, and during such a challenging year, all I wanted was to cling to life and fight on."

Gadot shared that she was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. During the procedure, in March, she also welcomed her daughter Ori, who is now nine months old. "Her name, meaning 'my light,' was not chosen lightly," Gadot penned about Ori. "Before the surgery, I told my husband Jaron that our daughter would be the beacon of hope waiting for me at the end of this dark tunnel."

Gadot expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the "remarkable team of doctors" at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. The Heart of Stone actress, who noted in her post that she is now "fully healed," emphasized the importance of listening to one's body.

"Pain, discomfort, or even subtle changes often carry deeper meanings," she continued. "Being attuned to your body can be life-saving, and awareness truly matters." Gadot revealed that she was unaware that three in every 100,000 pregnant women over 30 are diagnosed with CVT (cerebral venous thrombosis). "It's crucial to identify it early because it is treatable," she wrote. "While rare, it's a possibility, and acknowledging its existence is the first step in addressing it."

The mother of four assured her fans that she didn't intend to "frighten anyone" with her post but rather 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. Gadot also noted that she hopes sharing her personal experience will shed light on the often-hidden realities behind the curated moments we share on social media.

Additionally, the Red Notice actress shared the post on her Instagram Stories and included a link to an informational page about strokes from the American Heart Association.

Gadot initially announced the birth of her fourth child on Instagram in March, but she didn't mention the harrowing medical situation at that time. "My sweet girl, welcome," Gadot captioned a photo of herself cradling Ori in a hospital bed. "The pregnancy was not easy, but we made it through," she wrote. "You have brought so much light into our lives, living up to your name, Ori, which means 'my light' in Hebrew. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. Welcome to the house of girls... and daddy is pretty cool too."

Gadot, who is married to film producer Jaron Varsano, is also a doting mother to Alma, 13, Maya, 7, and Daniella, 3.

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