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Bindi Irwin Misses Annual Steve Irwin Gala Due to Unexpected Medical Emergency: 'Health Has to Come First,' Brother Robert Says

Bindi Irwin and her mom Terri Irwin had to miss the annual Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas this year as 26-year-old Bindi experienced a ruptured appendix, requiring surgery. 'She's going to be OK, but surgery — out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them,' Bindi's brother Robert Irwin told PEOPLE at the May 10 gala.

"Bindi has become an incredible advocate for women's health, particularly, and I think it’s really important to prioritize getting help," Robert tells PEOPLE of his elder sister. While speaking on the Feb. 3 episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast with host Sarah Grynberg, she recalled dealing with hidden health issues for more than a decade. "I went for 10 years undiagnosed because doctors really didn't know enough, they diagnosed me with a million other things, like IBS, or hormones or 'It's just part of being a woman,' " she shared.

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