Selena Had A Kidney Transplant
Big Selena Gomez news was recently released when she let her fans know that she had been laying low for the summer when she announced that she had undergone a kidney transplant, made necessary by her battle with lupus.
Selena had been assuring her fans that she was focusing on her health when she announced last year that she'd be taking some time off from her career.
Where Did She Go?
Her release of photos from the operation has had her fans buzzing about her health and the major act of kindness from her friend who donated her kidney to Selena.
When Did She Know She Had Lupus?
Although Selena released a new music video for her song "Fetish" featuring Gucci Mane, with a close-up of her mouth for a sensual additive, many of her fans had been wondering why she hadn't been touring or promoting her new hit single.
Going Public
Back in 2013, Selena said she was diagnosed with Lupus, which is an auto-immune disorder that causes the body's immune system to attack healthy tissue instead of recognizing what's foreign and bad for the body and only attacking those cells.
A year later, she quietly underwent Chemotherapy treatments to address her lupus issue. It wasn't until 2016 when she clued her fans in on the fact that there was, in fact, a problem with her health that she would be forced to address and take time off from her career as a result.
Her Amazing Friend
Selena revealed that lupus was causing her both mental and physical health, saying "I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks, and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges."
So, who's this amazing friend that gave Selena Gomez one of their kidneys? Her name is Francia Raisa, an actress from Los Angeles, who had been in 'Bring It On: All Or Nothing' and 'The Secret Life Of The American Teenager'.
Selena Was Beyond Thankful
Selena and Francia have been best friends for 10 years. You can recognize her in her appearance in Selena's 'Everybody Knows' music video.
Selena posted a very heartfelt message for Francia, saying on Instagram... "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.
Lupus 101
I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the white blood cells in the body that fight off foreign invaders can't tell what's healthy and what's not. Since these cells can't tell which cells to attack, they can cause inflammation all over the body.
How Do You Get Lupus?
There's no telling when or why, but flare-ups are rather unpredictable.
Doctors say that nine out of ten lupus patients are women, but the fewer men that do get it tend to suffer more severe cases. "It's a very rough disease," says Naveed N. Masani, a nephrologist and the medical director of the outpatient dialysis unit of New York University's Winthrop Hospital.
How Bad Can It Get?
"You feel for these patients and what they go through. It's not just the kidneys, but joint pain, rashes, fatigue. They feel lousy."
"Lupus is the ultimate autoimmune disease," Masani says, adding that "60-90% of patients with the disease have kidney involvement." The kidneys, Masani explains, "are kind of prime real estate, if you will, for the combination of your body attacking itself and the products they make. The kidneys are your filters.
How Bad Was It For Selena?
Every minute of the day, 100 drops of your blood pass through your kidneys to get cleaned."
Reports say that it is very common for kidney functions to decline to the point where some need dialysis or a transplant within a couple of years, as Gomez did.
Heartfelt Instagram Post
"Depending on when patients get diagnosed and how bad things are, (kidneys) can deteriorate rapidly." There are medications that can slow the effects of lupus, but they do have their fair share of unwanted side effects.
"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 the 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.
Fans Love Francia
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"
On Thursday, Gomez fans swarmed Raisa's latest Instagram photo to thank her for the kidney donation. "You're amazing," one person commented. "What a great friend you are god bless you," said one commenter, with another writing.
Francia's Instagram Post
"Thank you!!!! You saved selena?!! You are an angel❤️"
Francia said in her post-surgery Instagram post, "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.
Showing Off Her Scar
❤️ xx"
"You're one hell of a friend." “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,” she said.
Raising Awareness
Selena assured her fans she would soon fill the world in on the status of her health.
Gomez concluded her remarks by saying that "lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made," and urging everyone to visit the Lupus Research Alliance website.
Second Opinions
It's always a great thing when celebrities use their attention to create awareness and make the world a better place.
Gary Gilkeson, associate dean at the Medical University of South Carolina and chairman of the Lupus Foundation of America's medical-scientific advisory committee, says “Many people see two or four physicians before it is picked up that’s what the problem is.
Good News!
It is difficult to diagnose early on, but the earlier the diagnosis the better the chance of us catching it before it gets too out of hand.”
“I think it's important to emphasize that lupus patients can lead relatively normal lives,” Gilkeson said.
Super Hero BFF
“She will be able to resume her career, go to college if she wants, and having children is possible.” We don't know that Selena is even thinking about having kids yet, but it's great to know that with her kidney transplant comes greener grass on the other side of the fence.
Raisa was a total hero when she stepped up after Gomez went through an exhaustive search through family members to see if any were a match.
Raising Money
After she struck out on her luck, Raisa did what only the best of friends would even consider doing.
Gomez has a large influence on the American public eye, which was a blessing as she used her fame to help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for lupus research.
In an amazing act of generosity, Gomez donated a portion of her ticket sales on her last tour to the Lupus Research Center.