Actress Gal Gadot disclosed Sunday that she underwent emergency brain surgery while eight months pregnant after doctors discovered a massive blood clot.
Gadot detailed her medical crisis from February in a social media post, describing weeks of severe headaches that left her bedridden before an MRI revealed the condition.
“We rushed to the hospital, and within hours, I underwent emergency surgery,” she said. “My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear.”
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) December 29, 2024
The 39-year-old actress said she and her family had to confront “how fragile life can be,” describing the experience as “a stark reminder of how quickly everything can change … all I wanted was to hold on and live.”
Gadot also explained that Ori’s name, meaning “my light” in Hebrew, was chosen deliberately.
“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 said, referring to her husband Jaron Varsano.
The “Wonder Woman” star said she has since recovered and thanked the doctors and medical team who supported her through “weeks of dedicated care.”
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 27: Gal Gadot attends the Loewe Paris Womenswear Spring-Summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Gadot posted the lengthy statement alongside a hospital photo showing her holding both her newborn daughter and a coffee cup.
“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.
Gadot used her platform to tell others to listen to their body’s warning signs.
“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,” she wrote on Instagram.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 13: In this image released on March 13, Gal Gadot attends Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2021 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/KCA2021/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
Gadot told her followers that “3 in 100,000 pregnant women in the 30s+ age group are diagnosed with CVT(develop a blood clot in the brain).”(RELATED: ‘Woke Up In A Wheelchair’: Jamie Foxx Reveals Mystery Illness)
“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,” she wrote.
The actress added that “if even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing.”
