Gal Gadot is opening up about a deeply personal and life-changing experience — undergoing emergency surgery for a blood clot in her brain during her pregnancy, which led to the birth of her fourth daughter, Ori.
In an emotional social media post on Sunday night, the Wonder Woman and Fast & Furious actress revealed that she was diagnosed with a “massive” blood clot in her brain while in the eighth month of pregnancy with Ori, who was born in March. Gadot shared that she had been suffering from severe headaches for weeks, which kept her bedridden, before an MRI revealed the alarming truth.
“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.”
The actress was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery. During the procedure, Ori was born. Gadot explained that she named her daughter “Ori,” meaning “my light,” as a symbol of hope. “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.”
Thanks to a team of extraordinary doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and weeks of care, Gadot made it through and began her recovery journey. “Today, I am fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back,” she said.
Gadot decided to share her story to raise awareness about this rare condition. She explained that she had no idea that 3 in 100,000 pregnant women in their 30s develop blood clots in the brain. She emphasized the importance of early detection, noting that the condition is treatable when diagnosed on time. “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 said. “If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing.”
Gadot, who shares four daughters with her husband Jaron Varsano, will soon be seen on screen in Disney’s live-action Snow White, where she will portray the Evil Queen.