Anok Yai Recovers From Life-Threatening Surgery Complications
The fashion world takes a collective sigh of relief at the news of Anok Yai's road to medical recovery. Yai, a 28-year-old South Sudanese-American supermodel who was recently crowned Model of the Year at the 2025 Fashion Awards, is currently recovering from a scary medical emergency. After undergoing what was initially a successful robotic lung operation in mid-December, Yai was reportedly rushed back to the hospital after developing sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.
The news comes as a shock to fans who have seen Yai dominate the industry, from opening Prada shows to gracing every major Vogue cover. However, the model has been behind the high fashion editorials navigating a medical struggle that the majority of the world was unaware of until she took to Instagram to share her journey.
According to Page SixFor a large part of her life, Yai was asymptomatic, but over the last year her health began a steady decline that she initially tried to outrun. What she originally dismissed as a persistent cough evolved into chest pains, blood clots, and terrifying moments where she struggled to catch her breath. After seeking specialist careshe was diagnosed with a congenital defect, a condition present from birth, which was overworking her heart and slowly destroying her lung tissue.
Despite the severity of her symptoms, Yai admitted that she chose to work through the pain, trying to find a convenient time for a procedure in an industry that rarely stops for a while.
“I quickly realized there would never be a 'right time' — my health would continue to deteriorate,” she shared with her followers.
Anok Yai is on the mend after a post-operative scare
The robotic thoracic surgery, performed by Dr. Robert Cerfolio at NYU Langone Health, was intended to remove the diseased tissue and give the model a fresh start. However, the subsequent development of sepsis turned a standard recovery into a “difficult, life-saving procedure” that required immediate intervention.
Page Six reported, sepsis is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection, potentially causing organ failure. Although it is a known postoperative risk, the urgency of Yai's situation cannot be overstated. Fortunately, sources close to the model indicate that she is currently stable and expected to make a full recovery.
Yai has been vocal about her gratitude to the medical teams involved in her care, specifically calling out Dr. Harmik Soukiasian and Beverly Hills Concierge Health for discovering the condition that others may have missed.
The outpouring of support from the fashion community has been tremendous. Icons like Naomi Campbell and designers around the world have flooded her social media with well-wishes, acknowledging the resilience she has shown in this ordeal. Yay has always been a symbol of strength and grace on the catwalk, but this latest chapter has redefined her as a symbol of vulnerability and survival.
As she focuses on her healing at home, the industry is reminded that health is the ultimate luxury. Yai concluded her recent update with a message of hope for her fans: “For now I'm healed…but I'll be back. See you ❤️”
