Selena Gomez Announces She's Received a Kidney Transplant

On Thursday, Selena Gomez shared that she received a kidney transplant earlier this summer. In an Instagram post, the 25-year-old addressed concerned fan who noticed the singer appeared to be “laying low for part of the summer,” and confirmed her absence, sharing she underwent a kidney transplant due to lupus.

“I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering,” Gomez wrote in her post, which shows a photo of her in the hospital with her kidney donor as well as her postoperative scar. “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.”

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

Gomez was diagnosed with lupus in 2013, but didn’t reveal her diagnosis until 2015, after she took a break from touring to get chemotherapy to treat the condition. Since then, she’s been open about her health, sharing updates and glimpses into her life with fans. Gomez. In May, she released the music video for “Bad Liar,” which featured the gauze and “fall risk” bracelet she had gotten in the hospital earlier this year.

Gomez also thanked her kidney donor, actress Francia Raisa, known for her role on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

“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.”

In addition to updating fans, her post also raises awareness for Lupus and the Lupus Research Alliance, both of which she’s advocated for before. This past July, for her birthday, Gomez asked people to donate to the Lupus Research Alliance. And earlier this year, she founded the Selena Gomez Fund for Lupus Research at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.