The 26-year-old was in Las Vegas for the Steve Irwin Gala on Saturday, May 10, when she was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

The sudden scare left her unable to attend the event, where she had planned to honor her father and continue her family’s Wildlife Warriors mission.

Bindi’s younger brother, Robert Irwin, 21, stepped in to speak on her behalf at the gala, confirming the news that Bindi’s appendix had ruptured. Continues…