Selena Gomez Reveals She Had a Kidney Transplant
It’s been a year since Selena Gomez took a major career hiatus to deal with ongoing health issues caused by her lupus. Now, during a busy year with an impressive musical comeback, a major Coach campaign, and an adorable relationship with The Weeknd, Gomez has revealed that she recently underwent a kidney transplant and has spent the past several months recovering.
“I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of,” she wrote on Instagram. “I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health.”
Gomez shared three photos with her update: one showing her recovering in a hospital bed, and two photos of her post-op scar. She gave a special thank you to her family and to the doctors who saw her through the before and after of her surgery. She also revealed that her friend, actor Francia Raisa, was her kidney donor, for which she’s very grateful.
“There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa,” Gomez wrote. “She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.”
Gomez has been very open about her chronic illness and the health issues and recovery she’s undergone as a result, but she stresses that it is still a very misunderstood condition. Lupus, an autoimmune disease, can cause inflammation of the small blood vessels that filter waste in the kidneys, according to the National Kidney Foundation. It attacks them like they would attack a disease.
In her Instagram update, Gomez also hinted that she’ll soon share more info about her illness and recovery with her fans in the weeks to come. “I honestly look forward to sharing with you soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you,” she wrote. While we also await updates on her condition, more than anything, we hope she’s taking the time to take the best care of herself possible.
Were you surprised to learn that Selena Gomez needed a kidney transplant? Let us know @BritandCo.
(Photo via Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Coach)
