Bindi Irwin is finally healing after undergoing a brutal emergency surgery that forced her to sit out one of the most important events of the year, her late father Steve Irwin’s annual gala in Las Vegas.
The 26-year-old wildlife warrior revealed on Instagram that she’s recovering after having her appendix removed, and if that wasn’t enough, doctors also discovered and removed 14 new endometriosis lesions while they were at it. Yeah, that’s as intense as it sounds.
In a candid post accompanied by raw photos from her hospital bed, Bindi shared what she’s been going through. She didn’t sugarcoat a thing. “Healing. Thank you for your incredible words of support and kindness,” she wrote. “The reason I share my health journey is because more girls and women desperately need answers to their undiagnosed pain.”
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This isn’t a new battle for her. Bindi revealed she’s been dealing with endometriosis for over 12 years, calling the disease “crippling” and emotionally isolating. It’s a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing unbearable cramps, fatigue, and even infertility. Bindi’s honesty about her pain is resonating with thousands of women who know just how real and overlooked endo can be.
Just a few days before the surgery, Bindi was planning to fly out and attend the gala in honor of her dad. She even tried to power through the pain. According to her brother, Robert Irwin, she was determined to go. “She 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,’” he told People. But the doctors had other plans. “The surgeon said, ‘No, your appendix is going. That thing’s got to come out’.”
Robert admitted that no one was expecting this sudden turn. “Out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” he said. “She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis, and now the appendix goes. Health is so important, it really is.”
Bindi’s absence from the gala was deeply felt. She was devastated she and her mom couldn’t make it, but her focus had to be on getting better. And she’s already taking steps down the long road to recovery. In a follow-up Instagram video, Bindi gave fans another update, saying, “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 was still groggy in the video, but her message was clear, she’s grateful to be healing and incredibly thankful for the love and support around her. “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.”
What makes Bindi Irwin’s story hit even harder is how openly she’s using her platform to raise awareness. She’s not just sharing updates for sympathy, she’s trying to change the narrative around women’s health, especially the way endometriosis is often dismissed or misdiagnosed. She wrote, “We need to raise awareness and change the narrative for women’s health. I see you; your pain is real, and you deserve answers and genuine health care.” She even directed her followers to check out @endofound for more info.
For someone who’s spent her life in the public eye, growing up in the shadow of her famous dad, Bindi’s vulnerability is striking and refreshing. She’s not holding back. She’s showing the not-so-glamorous side of life, the pain, the hospitals, the hard choices. And she’s proving once again that behind the camera and the khakis is a strong, brave woman who’s fighting not just for her own health but for others too.
