Supermodel Anok Yai has taken to social media to share some sad health news as she’s gotten a new diagnosis, which has forced her to pause her career. Chest pains and vomiting blood were two of the horrifying symptoms that led to the diagnosis.

Anok Yai is one of the brightest shining stars in the moonlight world. The 28-year-old became only the second black model, after Naomi Campbell, to open a Prada Show and has appeared on many covers, including Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, and Vogue, in recent years.

Moreover, Yai has walked the runway for Burberry and Versace and appeared in commercials for Tiffany & Co. and Nike, among others.

However, the Cairo, Egypt, native has now been forced to pause her career. On Instagram, the model wrote that she has been fighting a “silent battle” over the past year.

Sharing pictures from a hospital, Anok Yai explained, “I incidentally found out I had a Congenital defect overworking my heart and slowly destroying my lungs.”

“What started as something asymptomatic for the majority of my life turned into a lingering cough, which turned to chest pains, bouts of coughing up blood, then at times struggling to breathe.”

Model Anok Yai reveals common symptom before being diagnosed with lung condition

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a congenital defect can cause intellectual and developmental disability and physical disability.

Some defects can be more disruptive, and if they aren’t treated, they can cause lifelong health problems or, in some cases, even be fatal. Drinking alcohol, smoking, or a lack of folic acid during pregnancy can increase the risk. Congenital defects can be hard to spot.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms include shortness of breath during exercise, fainting, a bluish tongue, and swelling in the legs. About one in every 33 US infants is born with a significant congenital anomaly, according to the NICHD.

Anok Yai continued her social media post by recalling how she tried finding the right doctor and the right time while continuing to work. However, she “quickly realized” that her health wouldn’t wait for the “right time,” as her symptoms worsened.

“I’ve always thought I could outwork or outrun anything but the universe has a way of slowing you down and waking you up.”

Successful Robotic Lung Surgery

The model continued to thank staff at the Beverly Hills Concierge Health Center for discovering her condition, and the doctors and “amazing nurses” at NYU Langone Health.

“So yesterday I had a successful Robotic Lung Surgery thanks to Dr. Robert Cerfolio and his gracious and talented team who I am forever indebted to for giving me more time.”

Anok Yai concluded, “I’ll be back. See ya.”