Mia Williams
Gal Gadot had 'no idea' she was suffering a life-threatening blood clot during her pregnancy, and is now urging women to listen to their bodies as she opened up about the 'terrifying' ordeal.
The Wonder Woman actress, 39, suffered an extremely dangerous health diagnosis during her pregnancy with her fourth child.
She has since opened up about the 'terrifying' reality after experiencing symptoms for weeks prior.
Writing to fans on Instagram, she said: "For weeks, I had endured excruciating headaches that confined me to bed, until I finally underwent an MRI that revealed the terrifying truth.
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"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."
It was emergency surgery after being rushed to hospital which saved both her and her baby's life.
And while her daughter, Ori, was born safe and well, the actress is urging people to be aware.
She said: "Pain, discomfort or even subtle changes often carry a deeper meaning, and being attuned to your body can be life saving."
Gadot noted that three in 100,000 pregnant women above the age of 30 are diagnosed with the same clot, but stressed that spotting signs early can result in 'life-saving' treatment.
Explaining why her story is important, she added: "If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing."
She took the ordeal into account when naming her little girl, revealing that Ori means 'my light'.
Explaining further, she said: "Before the surgery, I told [my husband] Jaron that when our daughter arrived, she would be the light waiting for me at the end of this tunnel."
She also expressed how important it was for people to know the reality of situations going on behind closed doors.
The star hopes sharing her experiences will 'pull back the curtain on the fragile reality behind the curated moments we share on social media'.
Announcing her birth back in March, the mum-of-four wrote: "My sweet girl, welcome.
"The pregnancy was not easy and we made it through.
"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."