Bindi Irwin and her family were in Las Vegas to attend an event honoring her dad, but was forced to miss it due to a medical emergency.
Bindi Irwin, her brother Robert, and her mom Terri were in Las Vegas this weekend for the annual Steve Irwin Gala. The Gala is a fundraising event honoring Steve Irwin’s life and legacy. The funds raised by ticket sales and the live auction go to help the family carry on Steve’s conservation efforts.
Prior to this year’s festivities at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Bindi made several media appearances to promote the event. But she wasn’t there when the gala kicked off Saturday night (May 10).
Robert told the press that his sister was undergoing surgery after suffering a ruptured appendix.
“She’s going to be OK, but surgery — out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,” Robert told PEOPLE, adding that his mom would be missing the event as well to be with Bindi. “She’s just come out the other side of endometriosis and now the appendix goes. Health is so important — it really is.”
Robert revealed that his sister was determined to attend the gala despite being in pain. But the surgeon told her that it wasn’t an option and that her appendix had to be removed.
“She’s very sad. She’s devastated that she and Mom can’t be here, but I know she’ll make a speedy recovery,” he adds.
Bindi Irwin has become a voice for women’s health after suffering with undiagnosed endometriosis for 10 years.
Irwin, 26, underwent surgery for endometriosis a few years ago and went public with her diagnosis in 2023. In an interview in February, the mom of one opened up about her health struggles, saying, “They diagnosed me with a million other things, like IBS, or hormones or ‘It’s just part of being a woman.’ The symptoms continued to snowball, and it took me such a long time to find help, and it’s a story that so many women and girls know all too well.”
RELATED: BINDI IRWIN REVEALS SHE HAD SURGERY TO REMOVE 37 LESIONS
She also shared her very personal story on social media in hopes of encouraging other women to keep searching for answers when it comes to their own health.
View this post on Instagram
The day before the Steve Irwin Gala, Bindi posed for photos with her mom and brother.
“Khaki by day – Bellagio chic by night! ✨ Here in #LasVegas for the #SteveIrwinGala raising funds and awareness for Wildlife Warriors. Supporting conservation and remembering Dad’s extraordinary legacy. Enormous gratitude to everyone for your support as we continue to do all that we can to protect wildlife and wild places for the future generations,” she captioned a series of photos.
