In September 2017, Gomez announced on Instagram that she was recovering from a kidney transplant, which is why she had been quiet on social media. “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 began. “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,” she continued. “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.”
While speaking to W magazine, Raísa explained that she and Gomez didn’t immediately go public with news of their kidney transplant because recovery was “very hard” for them. “We went through a depression at the time,” Raísa said. “We kind of just wanted to be normal and not have that attention on us.”
In October 2017, Raísa and Gomez appeared on “Today” together to further talk about the procedure. Gomez said she was afraid to ask her loved ones to consider donating a kidney to her, so the fact that Raísa volunteered to get tested and was a match was “unbelievable.”
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