Gabrielle Ruiz’s pregnancy announcement.Photo: Philip Pisanchyn
Motherhood is on the horizon forGabrielle Ruiz.
TheCrazy Ex-Girlfriendstar is expecting her first child with husbandPhilip Pisanchynone year aftersuffering a devastating miscarriage, she confirms to PEOPLE as she surprises her costar and palRachel Bloomwith the news live Saturday (Ruiz’s 36th birthday!) on the mom-to-be’s podcast,What Are Friends For.
“Since my miscarriage last fall, I had a new perspective on my health as a woman ready to start a family,” Ruiz says. “I focused on my mental and physical health while we were trying again. WhenCOVID-19took over the world, we were weary of trying again, but decided to continue in faith. Six months later, we were pregnant!”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Gabrielle Ruiz’s pregnancy announcement.Philip Pisanchyn
RELATED GALLERY:“Our Miracle”: Celebrities Who Welcomed Babies After Experiencing a Miscarriage
“Philip and I are so thrilled and grateful to God for this new chapter in our lives,” she adds. “We have been focusing on the positivesof staying safe in isolationwhile sharing our pregnancy journey with family, friends and fans in new, virtual ways. So if any other soon-to-be mothers out there have any tips, we’ll take them!”
Ruiz and Pisanchyn met on Match.com and latertied the knot in August of 2016on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. They share two rescue pets together: a cat named Veronica and dog named Leela.
Sheopened up about her miscarriageback in November 2019, detailing the moments before and after the loss weeks before — coincidentally, on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
“When our OB-GYN gave us the news, I went through all the emotions; shocked, numb, confused, practical, overwhelmed, scared, sad, sarcastic, relieved, frustrated, even the thought, ‘Oh, this couldn’t be happening to US,’ " Ruizwrote in her post.
Ruiz went on to explain that reading the stories of other womengoing through similar experiencesgave her the motivation and courage to share her own.
“The stories you all shared gave me strength, understanding and the feeling that I truly wasn’t alone and that this all wasn’t in any way my fault,” theBroadwayveteran said. “So, I feel it is my duty to continue the transparency in sharing the secret story-telling of miscarriages. Because no one really talks about it as much as we should. I now have the opportunity to tell you that you, my dear, are not alone.”
“If you’re reading this and you got the miscarriage talk or if you’re anxious about starting a family, know that this is a common possibility, it’s no one’s fault, and it’s all going to truly be okay,” Ruiz continued further down. “We truly don’t knowhow brave our bodies and hearts are until we prevailin the moment, tears and all. xoG.”
The star later thanked her followers on her Instagram Story for all the messages of support she’d received since sharing her post, and gave her husband a shout-out, calling him her “rock.”
source: people.com
