In a heartfelt Instagram post, Anok Yai opened up about her struggle with a congenital disability that has been “overworking (her) heart and slowly destroying (her) lungs.”
Behind the stunning photos and glamorous fashion scenes, though, the 28-year-old supermodel has faced a significant health battle that she kept private for quite some time.
For over a year, she managed to maintain her busy career, working, traveling, and portraying an image of normalcy, all while grappling with serious health issues.
Initially, the symptoms were manageable, but that changed. “What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough,” Anok explained. This cough escalated to chest pains, and eventually, she began coughing up blood. Breathing became increasingly difficult for her.
Even through her challenges, Anok chose to power through. Like many ambitious individuals, she thought she could simply outwork her problems or wait until the right moment to seek help. However, the reality is that health doesn’t wait for convenience. “I realized there was never going to be a right time,” she reflected as her condition worsened.
Recently, Anok Yai underwent robotic lung surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that focuses on removing diseased lung tissue. The American Lung Association notes that this type of thoracic surgery can minimize complications and promote quicker recovery.
“Yesterday I had a successful robotic lung surgery,” she shared, expressing her gratitude towards Dr. Robert Cerfolio and his medical team for giving her “more time.” She also thanked Dr. Harmik Soukiasian, the team at Beverly Hills Concierge Health, who helped diagnose her condition, and the nurses at NYU Langone Hospital who assisted her throughout her treatment.
“The universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up,” she wrote.
Surrounded by family and friends when she regained consciousness after surgery, Anok Yai described the moment as grounding and incredibly emotional.
She wrapped up her message on a hopeful note, sharing, “For now I’m healing … but I’ll be back. See ya.”
As she focuses on her recovery, the fashion world and her fans are rallying around her with love, prayers, and positive wishes.
