Gal Gadot reveals she had 'terrifying' blood clot in her brain while pregnant

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Gal Gadot has opened up about a health scare she experienced before giving birth to her fourth child earlier this year.

The Wonder Woman star, 39, revealed she endured a “terrifying” ordeal when doctors discovered a “massive blood clot” in her brain during her eighth month of her pregnancy.

“This year has been one of profound challenges and deep reflections, and I’ve wrestled with how, or even if, to share a personal story. At the end, I decided to let my heart guide me. Perhaps this is my way of processing everything, of pulling back the curtain on the fragile reality behind the curated moments we share on social media. Most of all, I hope that by sharing, I can raise awareness and support others who may face something similar,” Gadot wrote in an Instagram post she shared with her 108 million followers this week.

“For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth,” she continued. “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 said she underwent “emergency surgery” before her daughter Ori was born in March.

“My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear. Her name, meaning ‘my light,’ wasn’t chosen by chance. Before the surgery, I told (her husband) Jaron (Varsano) that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel,” Gadot explained.

Gadot then went on to thank the doctors at Cedars Sinai Hospital for saving her life.

The Heart of Stone actress also urged her followers 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,” Gadot wrote.

The mother of four reminded her fans of some of the unsettling stats that can affect pregnant women in their 30s.

“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.

Gadot said she wasn’t trying “to frighten anyone” and hoped her story would “empower” her fans.

“If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing,” she concluded.

Her post generated over 1.7 million likes, with her Justice League co-star Jason Momoa writing, “Oh mama we love you.”

“This is an incredible story,” Cross actress Alona Tal added. “Thank you for deciding to share it. And thank goodness you are OK. Love to you and the family.”

Gadot made no mention of her health scare when she announced the birth of her fourth child in March.

“The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through,” she wrote in an Instagram post at the time, 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 😉❤️.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com