Demi Lovato’s Half-Sister Writes Moving Tribute On Lovato’s Birthday

Monday was Demi Lovato’s 26th birthday, which was not celebrated in the public eye. Lovato has been very open about her struggles with drug addiction, and just last month she survived a drug overdose after relapsing. The singer had been sober for a number of years before admitting to using drugs again in a powerful song called “Sober.” Lovato has been famous since she was just a kid, starting out on Barney & Friends and eventually moving to a break out role on the Disney Channel.

When someone is as famous as Lovato, it’s easy to forget that she has a family and friends who know her as just a regular person, who is a normal part of their every day life. Lovato’s younger half-sister Madison De La Garza wrote a post honoring who Lovato had been to her all her life and thanking the medical team that saved her life last month.

today could have been one of the worst days of my life, but instead i get to spend it thanking God, the incredible doctors, demi's team, and everyone across the world who offered their support – without all of these people i wouldn't have my big sister anymore. i've been thinking about how i wish that everyone could see the silly little things that she does, like how her nostrils move when she says certain words and when she brushes my hair behind my ear when i'm trying to sleep, because those are the things i'm thankful for today. they seem so small, but those little things make up my sister – not a singer, not a celebrity, and definitely not what she's been described as in the media – she's a daughter, a friend, and my big sister… and i am so, so thankful that i can tell her happy birthday. #happybirthdaydemi ❤️

A post shared by Madison De La Garza (@maddelagarza) on

She wrote:

today could have been one of the worst days of my life, but instead i get to spend it thanking God, the incredible doctors, demi’s team, and everyone across the world who offered their support – without all of these people i wouldn’t have my big sister anymore. i’ve been thinking about how i wish that everyone could see the silly little things that she does, like how her nostrils move when she says certain words and when she brushes my hair behind my ear when i’m trying to sleep, because those are the things i’m thankful for today. they seem so small, but those little things make up my sister – not a singer, not a celebrity, and definitely not what she’s been described as in the media – she’s a daughter, a friend, and my big sister… and i am so, so thankful that i can tell her happy birthday.

Lovato and La Garza’s mother, Dianna De La Garza, echoed the same sentiment by sharing her daughter’s post, adding, “Blessed beyond belief today.”

According to People, Demi Lovato was moved from the hospital to an in-patient facility on August 4, a source telling them she’d be there for awhile:

“Demi left the hospital over the weekend. She will get continued care at an in-patient rehab facility. At the hospital, she was surrounded by family and friends that support her sobriety. They all want Demi to be the best she can. […] She has a long journey ahead, but with all the love, her journey could absolutely be a positive one.”

Lovato clearly has the supportive family she needs as she recovers and ones who know exactly, what’s most important about her. It isn’t fame.