Bindi Irwin is on the road to recovery after undergoing emergency surgery.
“Healing,” Irwin, 26, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 25. “Thank you for your incredible words of support and kindness. The reason I share my health journey is because more girls and women desperately need answers to their undiagnosed pain.”
Irwin, who explained that she’s “battled with endometriosis” for more than 12 years, shared a carousel of snaps of her smiling for the camera. In one image, Irwin could be seen laying on a hospital bed in a hospital gown, while in another, a quote read: “Today is a good day to be proud of all the silent battles you’ve won…”
“This disease is crippling and can make you feel incredibly isolated. We need to raise awareness and change the narrative for women’s health,” she wrote. “I see you, your pain is real, and you deserve answers and genuine health care. For more information visit @endofound.”
Earlier this month, Bindi missed late father Steve Irwin’s annual gala in Las Vegas after rupturing her appendix.
“She’s going to be OK, but surgery — out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” Bindi’s brother Robert Irwin told People at the time. “She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes. Health is so important — it really is.”
Bindi and Robert’s mother, Terri Irwin, was also absent from the event to take care of the Dancing With the Stars alum.
“[Bindi] was ready to come to the gala, put on a brave face in a lot of discomfort and a lot of pain and said, ‘Nope, I’m just going to tough it out, I’m going to go for it,’” Robert, 21, said. “But the surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s gotta come out.’ Health has to come first. She’s very sad. She’s devastated that she and Mom can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery.”
Days later, Bindi shared an update on her condition in an Instagram video and explained that she “just got out of surgery about an hour ago.”
“I had my appendix removed. I also had 14 new endometriosis lesions [that] had to be removed, and they kindly stitched up my hernia as well,” she said. “I’m sorry if I’m a little out of it in this video, but I just wanted you to know that I’m on the road to recovery, one step at a time. And I’m so lucky to have so much love in my life.”
In the caption, Bindi noted that the surgery was a “success” and explained that doctors repaired “a large hernia” she acquired when giving birth in 2021 and removed 14 endometriosis lesions. (Bindi and husband Chandler Powell share daughter Grace.)
“I have so much love for dear Chandler & sweet Grace. Thank you to Mum for being there with me every step of the way,” she concluded. “And rest assured, I’ll see you at the next Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane this November. One day at a time. Time to heal now. Sending my love to you all.”
Before her emergency surgery, Bindi opened up about her health struggles in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly earlier this month. “If you have good health you can do anything,” she shared, “but when you’re feeling unwell it’s impossible to function in life.”
