Selena Gomez's Kidney Transplant A Likely Risk With Lupus
LOS ANGELES (CBS/CNN) — Selena Gomez revealed on Thursday that she received a kidney transplant from her best friend.
With 126 million followers, Selena Gomez made the revelation on Instagram, after fans had been wondering why she'd been "Laying low" over the summer. The singer posted a photo on Instragram that shows her and fellow actress Francia Raisa holding hands across their hospital beds.
On Wednesday, Gomez held a meet-and greet with fans in New York City, as she was smiling and looking healthy.
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"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," Gomez wrote in the caption." "So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering."
Gomez revealed her Lupus diagnosis in 2015 and last year took some time off as she struggled with the disease as well as anxiety and depression.
Dr. Pooja Singh, a medical director of the Living Donor kidney Transplant Program at Jefferson says Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack its own tissues.
"It can affect any organ system in your body," he explained. "It can affect heart, muscle , joints , skin and it can affect your kidneys."
For patients like Gomez , who need a transplant, an organ from a live donor is preferable. And the donor doesn't have to be related, only medically compatible.
"The best outcome in terms of the the quality of the kidney, and in terms of longevitiy of the recipient, is with a live donor transplant," Dr. Singh said.
Gomez also shared images of a post-operative scar on her lower abdomen but she didn't say where or when the procedure took place.
Also unknown, the condition of the donor, Gomez's 29-year-old actress friend.
Doctors say living donors can have full productive lives with just one kidney.
The superstar said the transplant was "what I needed to do for my overall health."
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She said she looked forward to sharing more with her fans later about her transplant journey, but in the meantime she wanted to thank her health team and Raisa.
"She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me," Gomez said. "I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."
Raisa is an actress best known for her role as Adrian Lee on the TV series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."
On Thursday, Gomez fans swarmed Raisa's latest Instagram photo to thank her for the kidney donation.
"You're amazing," one person commented. "You're one hell of a friend."
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