Selena Gomez speaks about her summer kidney transplant

Selena Gomez has revealed that she received a kidney transplant over the summer with her friend, The Secret Life of the American Teenager actress, Francia Raisa, acting as the donor.

The singer underwent the procedure due to complications from Lupus and has now shared that this is the reason she was “laying low for part of the summer“.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Gomez opened up about her recent surgery. The post reveals that her recovery period kept her from promoting new music like ‘Bad Liar‘ and ‘Fetish‘, songs that she’s “extremely proud of“. She also thanks her “family and incredible team of doctors for everything” along with her “beautiful friend Francia Raisa.”

The post concludes with the singer encouraging readers to visit Lupus Research Alliance to learn more about the “very misunderstood” disease. See the full post below.

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 Sep 14, 2017 at 3:07am PDT

Gomez cancelled her Revival tour in 2016 due to her Lupus diagnosis in 2015.  She underwent chemotherapy treatments and cited mental health issues caused by autoimmune disease.