Gal Gadot opened up about a “terrifying” medical crisis she endured during her eighth month of pregnancy. The actress revealed her experience in a lengthy Instagram post on Sunday night, acknowledging that she wrestled with whether to “share a personal story.”
“In February, during my eighth month of pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a massive blood clot in my brain,” Gadot wrote. “For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth. 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.”
Following the diagnosis, Gadot was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. She also gave birth to her daughter, who is now nine months old. “My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear,” the actress shared. “Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance. 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.”
In the post, Gadot also thanked the doctors who helped her during the recovery. “Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back,” she said. “The journey has taught me so much. 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.”
She encouraged her followers to be aware of the symptoms and risks of blood clots in the brain during pregnancy. “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 noted.
She added, “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.”
Next up, Gadot will star as Snow White’s wicked stepmother in Disney’s forthcoming live-action reimagining Snow White. The new rendition, an adaptation of the 1937 original, was directed by Marc Webb and features the original power ballad “Waiting on a Wish” from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriting duo behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land. Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida wrote the screenplay. The film releases March 21.