Over the last two years, Selena Gomez has been pretty open with fans about her battle with lupus, and the faith walk that is getting her through it.
“I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy,” she told Billboard in October 2015. “That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke.”
And just yesterday, the singer explained her absence from the public eye once again with a heartfelt Instagram post, in which she described her recent kidney transplant.
“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,” wrote the singer. “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.”
Along with the caption was a sweet photo of Selena and her friend Francia Raisa holding hands, side-by-side in their hospital beds.
Instagram
When she heard of Selena’s need for a kidney, ‘The Secret Life Of The American Teenager’ star offered to donate hers without a second thought.
“There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa,” wrote Selena of her friend’s selfless act. “She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.”
Instagram
The songstress shared a photo of her post-op scar and has been recovering nicely. She hopes to be back in full swing very soon.
Selena stamped the end of her transplant announcement with the four little but powerful words that have carried her through each step of her journey: “by grace through faith.”
Through her battle with the largely misunderstood autoimmune disease, Selena hopes to raise public awareness for the sake of others suffering from lupus. She closes her post with a call-to-action for fans to educate themselves on what has been coined an ‘invisible illness.’
“Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made,” she writes. “For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/.
