In a time of social media, smart phones, and reality shows, it’s amazing that anything, especially in the celebrity realm, stays secret for any length of time. Which is why it was so shocking to find out that singer Selena Gomez had a kidney transplant over the summer that we didn’t know about until she made the news public today.
Gomez suffers from Lupus, and apparently needed a kidney transplant thanks to complications from the disease. No one in her family was a match, but thankfully an amazing friend was able to step in and literally save her life. Actress Francia Raisa, whom you might know from five seasons of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, is the young woman who stepped up to the plate and was able to donate a working kidney to Gomez.
Raisa and Gomez met in 2008, and have been inseperable since, after both being on Disney Channel/Freeform shows and having the powers that be take some of the stars of their shows to boost spirits at a children’s hospital. As Raisa told Latina Magazine in an interview, “Selena and I were in the same group and we just clicked.” They’ve since become the kind of friends that, you know, are willing to give each other kidneys should the need arise, which totally blows my mind.
Gomez revealed the big events of her summer, complete with photographic evidence, on her Instagram this morning. She says:
“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”
In addition to the beautiful #bffgoals photo above, she also shared the following up-close-and-personal shots documenting her transplant journey:
It’s inspiring to see a friendship like this, and we wish both Gomez and Raisa all the health and happiness in the world. And as Gomez mentions above, Lupus is still (surprise, surprise, considering the priority that women’s health seems in this country) an incredibly misunderstood disease that affects more women than men. To find out more, visit the Lupus Research Alliance website HERE.
(via Jezebel and Hollywood Life, image: Teresa Jusino/Disney Channel/Freeform)
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