Selena Gomez has revealed that she underwent a secret kidney transplant operation over the summer to help in her fight against Lupus.

The actress-singer announced the news via an Instagram post which thanked her organ donor best friend and said that she wanted to explain why fans hadn't heard much from her despite having new music out.

“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,” she wrote. “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.”

She revealed that it was her long-time friend, actress Francia Raisa, who donated her kidney. The picture in the post showed the pair side-by-side while there were also pictures of her surgical star.

 

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 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. 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

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on

 

“There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa,” she captioned the picture. “She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.”

She also said she looks forward to sharing the story of her journey of the past few months with her fans and thanked her family and doctors.