Selena Gomez has been quite the outpoken and influential singer and actress in the industry on important issues – such as immigration reform and equality for all genders and sexualities. A few years ago, she opened up to her fans that she suffers from Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Sometimes, patients who suffer from Lupus need to undergo treatments, surgeries and even transplants if the disease takes over an organ and deteriorates it.
This week, Gomez opened up on her Instagram page to her 127 million followers (she is the most followed person on Instagram) about why she has been laying low all summer and not promoting her new music as much. Over the summer, she revealed she received a kidney transplant from one of her best friends and was recovering from her surgery. The post is both beautiful and moving for several reasons.
Gomez is brave and courageous to tell the world about something so personal, knowing how people sometimes shame and ridicule those in the industry. She’s also loyal to her fans in opening up to them – letting them into her world. Gomez also shows her young, female fans that true friendships can withstand the test of anything – and those who love you will always be there for you. Her best friend, Francia Raisa, is also an actress who starred in the TV show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” The two met when they were both doing charity work at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and were visiting sick children.