Selena Gomez’s health issue: The singer, lupus advocate, and Instagram user with the most followers ever announced the news to her fans and the general public. In the post, she revealed that her close friend, actress Francia Raisa, donated the kidney.
She gave me the greatest gift and made the greatest sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am extremely fortunate. I love you very much, sister.
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Previously, in August 2016, Selena Gomez canceled the remainder of her tour because complications from her lupus had caused her to experience increased anxiety and depression.
I can’t even put into words how much Selena Gomez inspires me. Such a beautiful soul. Sending her all the love today.
— Chelsea Briggs (@Chelsea_Briggs) September 14, 2017
“It was necessary for my overall health,” she wrote in her latest blog entry. As I’ve always desired to do with you, I look forward to soon sharing my journey through the past several months with you.
On Twitter, both friends and fans applaud Gomez for revealing her condition. Many consider lupus to be an “invisible illness” because its symptoms are frequently hidden and it can be difficult to diagnose.
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Toni Braxton and Kelle Bryan, both lupus survivors and fellow singers, are among the many celebrities in recent years who have revealed that they live with invisible illnesses.
Another invisible illness warrior! 💪🏼Autoimmune Diseases really are horrible. Get well soon @selenagomez 💛 #lupus https://t.co/yDaDciLEzt
— a m y b e t h 💫 (@Mhysa23) September 14, 2017
And just days before Gomez’s transplant announcement, Lady Gaga caused a stir by revealing on Twitter that she has fibromyalgia, another invisible illness.
What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation. It is difficult for doctors to diagnose and has a wide range of symptoms that affect individuals to varying degrees. There are several types of lupus, the most common of which is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE can cause the immune system to attack the kidneys, particularly the blood-filtering portions of the organ.
Lupus nephritis typically begins within the first five years of lupus diagnosis. It is one of the disease’s most serious complications. When your kidneys are affected, you may experience additional pain. During her journey with lupus, Selena Gomez likely experienced the following symptoms:
- swelling in the lower legs and feet
- high blood pressure
- blood in the urine
- darker urine
- having to urinate more frequently at night
- pain in your side
Lupus nephritis is incurable. The condition is managed in order to prevent irreversible kidney damage. If the damage is extensive, the individual will need dialysis or a kidney transplant. Annually, between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans receive a transplant.
In her post, Gomez urged her followers to help raise awareness about lupus and to visit and support the Lupus Research Alliance, adding, “Progress is being made, but lupus is still widely misunderstood.”
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