Selena Gomez (R) with her Kidney Donor in hospital
American music star Selena Gomez revealed on Thursday that she had undergone a kidney transplant after suffering from Lupus Nephritis.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which makes the body fail to differentiate between its own healthy tissue and foreign invaders.
Selena, famous for the song, The Heart Wants what it Wants, revealed that she got the kidney donation from her close friend and fan Francia Raisa.
“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,” Selena said on a post on Instagram. Raisa is an actress best known for her role as Adrian Lee on the TV series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
While at the hospital where the operation was done, Selena said in her post: “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.”
She added that she was grateful for her family and friends for the support rendered.
“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.”
Research indicates that with this type of disease, the antibodies or blood-borne proteins responsible for deciding biological friends from enemies cause inflammation in various parts of the body including the heart, bones, lungs and other internal organs.
It is common in women, who comprise nine out of 10 lupus patients, according to the National Institutes of Health.