Bindi Irwin has issued a sad health update after receiving a devastating diagnosis.
Bindi is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, the beloved Australian zookeeper, conservationist, and environmentalist who tragically lost his life in 2006 aged 44.
Like her father, the 26-year-old is a passionate conservationist, zookeeper, and TV personality.
In an emotional update, Bindi has detailed her health struggles and the difficulty in finding answers.
Bindi recently spoke to People magazine about the years of invalidation and frustration she endured before her condition was recognized.
She recalled: “I was tested for everything. Every tropical disease, Lyme disease, cancer, you name it. I had every blood test and scan imaginable.”
Many doctors downplayed Bindi’s symptoms and suggested her pain was psychological, which led her to question herself.
“You wind up in this strange space of self-doubt, fear, and insecurity,” she added.
Bindi’s turning point came when her symptoms reached an unbearable level, culminating in an incident where she collapsed in pain.
After years of searching, she finally found a doctor who took her concerns seriously.
Bindi reflected on her chronic pain being dismissed by those around her in a heartfelt interview with The Courier Mail.
She shared: “Everyone thought I was becoming this flaky person because I would bow out of commitments at the last minute because I was in so much pain.”
When Bindi received her endometriosis diagnosis, the response was overwhelming – not just from those close to her but from women worldwide who related to her experience.
She said: “In some ways, the response to telling my story was devastating because so many women came forward.
“It broke my heart. Some of their stories were identical to mine, some had taken even longer to get a diagnosis, and there was a plethora of women’s health issues shared with me, and with each other.”
Despite facing hardships, Bindi has found solace in the solidarity that’s emerged from these shared experiences.
She explained: “It was women supporting other women, and that part of it was beautiful.”
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often causing intense pelvic pain and potentially leading to fertility challenges, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The disease can begin with a person’s first menstrual cycle and persist until menopause.
Earlier this year, Bindi Irwin underwent surgery at the Seckin Endometriosis Center in New York City, where doctors removed 37 lesions and a ‘chocolate cyst’ from one of her ovaries.
Now 26, Bindi is focused on healing and says she is seeing gradual progress each week.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “I feel like I have a second chance at life.”
