Bindi Irwin Grateful For Her Fans After Undergoing Emergency Surgery

Bindi Irwin is opening up about her ongoing health battle and expressing heartfelt gratitude to fans following a recent hospitalization and emergency surgery.

The 26-year-old conservationist and daughter of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin underwent surgery earlier this month to remove her appendix and additional endometriosis lesions while in Las Vegas for the annual Steve Irwin Gala on May 10.

Unfortunately, Bindi Irwin was forced to bow out of the charity event at the last minute after experiencing a ruptured appendix.

In an Instagram video posted on May 12, Irwin revealed that she had flown to New York City for treatment at Lenox Hill Hospital, where she was seen by Dr. Tamer Seckin, a leading gynecologic surgeon who also treated her in 2023.

During the procedure, doctors removed her appendix, 14 endometriosis lesions, and repaired a large hernia she said she developed during childbirth four years ago.

“My appendix was removed, along with another 14 lesions (after having 37 endometriosis lesions and a cyst removed two years ago),” she wrote at the time. “Thankfully, I am on the road to recovery.”

Now back home and healing, Irwin shared a new update with followers in a reflective Instagram post, which included photos of her standing in the rain with an umbrella.

“Healing,” she wrote. “Thank you for your incredible words of support and kindness.”

Irwin also explained why she continues to speak so candidly about her health struggles.

“The reason I share my health journey is because more girls and women desperately need answers to their undiagnosed pain,” she wrote. “I’ve battled with endometriosis for more than 12 years. 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 added. “I see you, your pain is real, and you deserve answers and genuine health care.”

Irwin first revealed her endometriosis diagnosis publicly in March 2023 after undergoing what she called “extensive” surgery. At the time, doctors discovered 37 lesions, some extremely deep, as well as a chocolate cyst. She recalled her surgeon’s words following the operation, “How did you live with this much pain?”

That moment, she said, was a long-overdue validation of more than a decade of suffering.

“There’s stigma around this awful disease,” she shared. “I’m sharing my story for anyone who reads this and is quietly dealing with pain and no answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real and you deserve help.”

Endometriosis affects more than 11% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S., according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The condition, caused by tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, often results in chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and emotional health issues like depression and anxiety.

Dr. Seckin has previously explained the challenges of diagnosing the disease, noting that it doesn’t appear in standard imaging or blood tests. “Only by laparoscopy, by looking inside directly with a camera, we can diagnose endometriosis,” he told ABC News.

While Irwin has become a powerful voice for women’s health in the wake of her endometriosis diagnosis, she recently revealed that her health concerns began long before she received answers, particularly during her pregnancy.

In an emotional interview with "Good Morning America," Irwin recalled the fear and uncertainty she experienced while expecting her daughter, Grace, in 2021. Despite battling undiagnosed endometriosis at the time, she successfully carried her daughter to term. But the road was far from easy.

She described moments of intense pain that left her terrified she might be miscarrying. “I thought I was losing my baby,” she admitted, reflecting on the physical toll and emotional distress she endured during that time.

Now, Irwin is using her platform to bring awareness to a condition that affects millions, turning her most vulnerable moments into a source of strength and solidarity for others still searching for answers.