Selena Gomez’s Best Friend Gave Her a Kidney

In one of her most revealing social media posts ever, superstar Selena Gomez told her 126 million Instagram followers (and the world) that she had a kidney transplant over the summer.

Posting a lengthy caption alongside several photos, Gomez wrote, “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. So 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.”

MORE: Selena Gomez goes public with lupus diagnosis

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. So 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. 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. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, there aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/ -by grace through faith

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 14, 2017 at 3:07am PDT

The 25-year-old announced she’d been diagnosed with lupus in 2015, and has been one of the disease’s strongest advocates ever since. She’s been honest about her treatment plan and the struggles she’s had to face living with a chronic illness.

Since she was diagnosed, Gomez has taken time off twice for issues related to the autoimmune disease. In August 2016, she took a step back after suffering from “anxiety, panic attacks and depression” which she said were related to her lupus diagnosis; and in 2017, for the kidney transplant.

Gomez also shared that her donor was longtime friend Francia Raisa. Raisa’s an actress as well, best known for her role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

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