(NEXSTAR) — "Wonder Woman" actor Gal Gadot revealed Sunday that she underwent emergency surgery earlier this year after a "massive blood clot" was found in her brain while she was eight months pregnant.
In a long post to Instagram, Gadot called 2024 a year "of profound challenges and deep reflections." She went on to explain that in February, while awaiting the arrival of her fourth daughter, she had been "enduring excruciating headaches that confined me to bed."
An MRI showed Gadot had "a massive blood clot" in her brain.
"In one moment, my family and I were faced with how fragile life can be," she wrote. "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 they rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery.
"My daughter, Ori, was born during that moment of uncertainty and fear," she explained, adding that Ori means "my light." "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."
According to Gadot, she had been diagnosed with CVT, or cerebral venous thrombosis. Such a diagnosis is uncommon, according to the University of Michigan Health System's Comprehensive Stroke Center. It refers to blood clots that form within "veins that drain the blood from the brain." A similar diagnosis, cerebral venous sinus thromboses (CVST), refers to clots that form in the sinuses.
Symptoms of CVT and CVST, a rare form of stroke, include headache, blurred vision, fainting or loss of consciousness, loss of control over body movement, seizures, and coma, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Treatment plans can vary but can include fluids, medication, and surgery.
While Gadot did not provide any additional details, experts say elevated levels of estrogen during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period have been known to cause CVT.
Gadot said she is "fully healed and filled with gratitude for the life I've been given back."
"The journey has taught me so much," she wrote. "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."
Gadot, who plays "Wonder Woman" and has appeared in the "Fast and Furious" series, among other films, is married to film producer Jaron Varsano. In addition to Ori, born in March, the couple shares three daughters, People reports.
