Pop star and all-round sweetheart Selena Gomez has revealed on Instagram that her recent career break was because she had to have a freakin’ kidney transplant.
The 25-year-old was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus in 2013, and has received numerous treatments for it, including chemotherapy. She announced last year that she was taking a break to focus on her health; today, she explained that she had needed the time to recover from the major surgery.
The surgery was obviously a success, with Gomez posting pictures of her healing scar from the operation.
Touchingly, it was a friend of Gomez who donated the transplanted kidney – a girl called Francia Raisa. Gomez used her post to express her thanks for Raisa’s “ultimate gift“:
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.
Read the whole post below, and find out more about lupus at the Lupus Research Alliance website – Gomez is asking her fans to read up, so that progress on the still-misunderstood disease can continue to progress.
Wishing you all the best with your recovery, Selena! You’re a real inspiration to us all.
