Selena Gomez’s Kidney Donor Speaks Out

We're not crying, you're not crying. - by Olivia Bahou

On Thursday morning, Selena Gomez revealed that she had undergone a kidney transplant over the summer, shocking the world with both the secret procedure and her brave and honest dialogue around it. “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,” Gomez revealed in a moving Instagram post.

Now, Raisa is helping to explain just why Gomez decided to share her story after keeping it private for so long. The actress shared the same photograph of the two in hospital beds to her Instagram account along with an emotional message.

“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,” she wrote.

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

“For more information regarding Lupus, please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: lupusresearch.org—Love you sis, so glad we’re on this journey together,” she concluded.

Instead of staying silent about her surgery, Gomez spoke out in order to raise awareness of the disease.

For more from Selena Gomez, pick up the October issue of InStyle Australia, available on Thursday September 14.

#Selena Gomez is grown up, in love and ready for anything. Read about her journey in our October issue, on sale tomorrow! Photographed by Phil Poynter. Styled by Kate Young. Hair by Danilo. Make-up by Hugo Vanngo. @selenagomez wears @coach.