What Is Lupus and Why Did Selena Gomez Go Through a Kidney Transplant?

Selena Gomez made a huge announcement on her Instagram and finally shared why she’s been laying low over the past few months: She went through a kidney transplant due to Lupus. “It is what I needed to do for my overall health,” she said. “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.” This isn’t the first time that she took a break because of her disease, she also took a year off to recover from anxiety and depression caused by Lupus.

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

Her kidney donor is actress Francia Raisa who she met a decade ago, they clicked, and became great friends (almost like sisters, actually). She stepped up and helped save Selena’s life. “I am beyond grateful that God would trust me with something that not only saved a life, but changed mine in the process,” she said in her own Instagram post. Both women are actually excited to share their story and journey to recovery to help shed a light on Lupus and the Lupus Research Alliance as it is a disease that’s still continuously misunderstood.

I am beyond grateful that God would trust me with something that not only saved a life, but changed mine in the process. This was part of our story, and we will share it soon, but what is important now is that this is not the only story. For more information regarding Lupus, please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org — Love you sis, so glad we’re on this journey together. ❤️ xx

A post shared by Francia Raísa (@franciaraisa) on Sep 14, 2017 at 10:19am PDT

So what is Lupus and why did Selena go through a kidney transplant? Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It means your own immune system can’t tell healthy cells apart from infected or bad cells so basically, it attacks its own body. It affects mostly young to middle-aged women from 19 to 60 years old. According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are two kinds of Lupus. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE affects your skin, joints, heart, and kidneys while Discoid Lupus Erythematosus only affects your skin. What Selena may have had is called Lupus Nephritis, a kind of SLE that only affects the kidneys, hence, her kidney transplant.

USA Today reported than Lupus patients who go through kidney transplants as compared to just regular dialysis tend to fare well, if not better. A new kidney restores the organ function as well as quiet down Lupus.

We’re all so glad to hear your recovering well, Selena! And we look forward to the testimony you and Francia are about to share.

Photo courtesy of Selena Gomez’s Instagram account

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