Selena Gomez Before Kidney Transplant

Selena Gomez is an American pop singer who skyrocketed to fame at the young age of 10 years old. As one half of Disney’s “child star” duo (the other being Demi Lovato), she landed multiple on-screen roles in movies like Another Cinderella Story and Princess Protection Program, and graduated to perform with her current band, Selena Gomez & The Scene. With the current streaming and personal choice TV-viewing phenomena, it is only in more recent years that she has been able to reinvent her career and her own personal image, and it is this that has seen her cement her way into people’s hearts for many different reasons.

One reason is due to her recent health issues. Gomez is suffering from a very debilitating and impactful autoimmune disorder known as lupus. It was her struggles with coming to terms with this disorder that forced her to take some time off from the public limelight at the end of 2016. However, as well as lupus, it was also the onset of this disease that provided her with the platform and ability to start blending her platforms as a UNICEF ambassador for 13 years and her personal battle with chronic disease in order to raise awareness for the disorder in question and for autoimmune patient health in general. In May of this year, Gomez received her rumored-to-be-on-hold kidney transplant, and the heartwarming tale about her donor that went viral soon after. Around this time, the number of people and measurement of interest in female celebrities that have or need kidney transplants has been of great interest, and therefore, this study uses Gomez’s health history and recent rise to general acclaim to begin documenting her chronic illness journey before the recent transplant-dominated news. In the subsequent sections, background information on the natural disasters that led to her awareness walk is itemized, and a comprehensive look at her health is given. Although lupus is not the main cause of kidney failure in children, the public is often more able to put Selena’s battles against uncertainty and pain into their own context if she doesn’t harp on the disclaimers that she experienced along the way. Aging will still impact the average person in more aggressive ways, and as of now, there is no cure for lupus and its possible complications.

Selena Gomez: Early Life and Career

Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Texas. Her parents are Amanda Dawn “Mandy” Teefey and Ricardo Joel Gomez, and Selena was named after the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Her mother was 16 years old at the time of her birth, and Mandy and Ricardo divorced in 1997. Selena was raised alone by Mandy until 2006, when she married Brian Teefey. She was named after the Tejano singer Selena, who died almost three years after her birth. In her youth, Gomez was already familiar with the world of entertainment. She was inspired by her mother, an actress in various stage productions, and she was also passionate about animals, including horses. In 2002, she once said in an interview that in the future, she would be an environmental lawyer or an actress, starring on Disney Channel’s ‘The Wizards of Waverly Place,’ where she played a teenage girl named Alex Russo. She made her theatrical debut in ‘The Waverly Place.’ The show was a critical success, earning four children’s animation Emmy nominations and a children’s choice award nomination for favorite TV show. Since then, Gomez’s musical career has been in motion, and she has given us music, acting, and charity work. In 2017, Gomez underwent a kidney transplant due to complications from an autoimmune disease. Gomez’s early entrance into the entertainment world at the age of seven had already made her a public figure. Her celebrity status multiplied when she started acting in feature films at 15. Although a huge triumph for the star, her unpredicted maturity also left her vulnerable to the inevitable scrutiny and contrived fever of the entertainment business, exposing her to criticism that unraveled her dogged commitment to a loved one, as well as herself.

Lupus Diagnosis

Lupus Diagnosis Four years after her show debuted and the same year a powerful message was released about her battle with lupus. With more than 1.5 million Americans suffering from the unknown illness, lupus is an extremely serious disease. The many different symptoms could be specifically targeted at different organs in the body. Therefore, lupus is difficult to diagnose and can cause different symptoms to be treated as separate issues. A written statement revealed that she was diagnosed with lupus. Detailed testing confirmed the pop star had the disease after years of dealing with symptoms. The shocking news was understandably distressful, who confessed after the fact: “I was scared because I do feel,” she admitted of her health scare. “I feel everything, even though I’ve tried to appreciate so many people who have tried to help me.”

Today, she is an advocate for mental health, having undergone programs to help cope with her diagnoses. However, four years ago, learning about lupus at age 21 was almost unbearable news. The condition, the doctors explained, was the reason behind the joint pain, muscle weakness, and fatigue. “I was diagnosed with lupus, and I’ve been through chemotherapy,” she explained after her televised lupus announcement. “That’s what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke.” The news was soul-crushing. The treatment would impact her professional career, but her personal relationships, she admitted, were still largely impacted. “I wanted a diagnosis and I want a treatment,” she told in a candid interview. “The moment I stepped into this facility, which was three months, I was in the most incredible place. I met a chef that became a friend and someone that taught me everything about food. […] I wanted to love. I’ve seen it unfold more than I thought. I’m suffering for the 1.5 million with lupus; […] we can give hope.”

Impact of Lupus on Selena Gomez’s Life and Career

Lupus has been a significant part of Selena Gomez’s life and has made it difficult for her to perform various activities. In fact, fans claimed that they thought she had become accustomed to living with the disease and that it did not affect her life. Physical symptoms and consequences are particularly apparent in this specific period of Selena’s career. That’s why it took a while before she was diagnosed. Selena’s treatment was not necessarily ridiculed by her fans, but they did object to her treatment.

It was not lost on anyone that Selena had fallen asleep while her “potential love song” was playing. The concert’s atmosphere undoubtedly contributed to her decision to cancel it. Selena also reportedly expressed that she was worried about future shows and if she would be able to attend them. At that point, she did not speak to the public about her illness. Ultimately, Selena required a kidney transplant because her kidneys had failed. Aside from the physical pain, Selena also suffered from the worst anxiety and depression of her life. Having lupus has become substantially more challenging as time has passed. She is conscious of her limits and does not necessarily ignore them. Nevertheless, she is doing her best to manage the disease while still fulfilling her work obligations. She has endeavored to seek time off and countless visits to medical centers. As a result, she constantly had love and hope around her. In addition to the woman who donated her kidney to her, Selena has spent time with her entire family, who have always been by her side. “My family was there,” Selena added, maintaining that she’s still unsure of other people’s intentions.

Decision to Undergo Kidney Transplant

After a year of trying to enjoy her life without looking at her “dying” body in full mirrors, Selena Gomez discovered, in the fall of 2016, that she needed a transplant. A common cold with lasting symptoms on the way from New York to Kansas City set off her fears. A rheumatologist who had followed her with the first words “I’m not a mother, and I want to be healthy first,” over the phone, confirmed that she played a waiting game. “She goes, ‘I don’t care if your only indicator is off, or if your blood pressure is bad, I think we should start taking care of your body from the inside out,'” she recalls.

A renal vascular surgeon adds that Gomez’s lupus nephritis became more aggressive over time. “She did have a reduction in her kidney function” over time, she confirms, though Gomez says her team’s documented decline isn’t true and it certainly wasn’t the main concern. “You need to get yourself to a place where you can function, because you’re not going to want to have a transplant if you’re not feeling well. I feel like I’ve exceeded her optimism, honestly.” The other factor: she was puffy and gaining weight due to kidney failure, and she agrees that the transplant would wait until she reached her optimal health. It took a couple of months, as Gomez does admit to sneaking blues music and food in L.A. and going back to her fighting weight of 106 pounds, but the plan was in place and she had chosen to go with a close “friend” as her donor.

Preparation for the Transplant Procedure

Before a person undergoes a transplant procedure, she must endure a grueling series of medical evaluations that assess every aspect of her physical and mental well-being, ensuring that she is healthy enough for such a surgery. In the case of a living donor transplant, the donor’s medical history is also extensively examined before the two parties can be cleared for surgery. While medical compatibility is a huge portion of the selection process—on a physical level, doctors must compare the receiver’s blood type, tissue type, and need for age, size, and general health to the available organs to find a match—the emotional and psychological evaluations are just as important. Emotional signals show the person’s mental fortitude and coping abilities, alongside the presence of a personal support system. The emotional and psychological evaluations are similar between living donors and receivers of a transplant. For her, the testing process was said to be highly personal and probing. During this time, she saw primary physicians and specialists, underwent resistance testing, and discussed her preparedness with the clinic’s counselors. Medically, during the procedure, a living donor typically needs to meet the same conditions as regular partial workers. This gives the donor time to recover emotionally and physically.

In the case of the donor and her friend, the planning and testing would take several weeks. After a lot of planning and medical research and more than 50 hours of surgery prep, in addition to ten years of living with a health condition, they were admitted to the hospital, preparing to spend hours undergoing a surgery that would take months to recover from. Though living donor transplants might take place on a scheduled basis, their timing can be as complicated as any cadaver transplant. To prepare, a living donor needs to coordinate multiple schedules: their own, the timing of at least two separate medical testing appointments, any surgery prep times, and surgery times. In many cases, donors wait until they are emotionally and physically prepared for the world. It is after this time frame that she should be scheduled for a complete hospital workup with tests to determine if she is physically or emotionally prepared to undergo the surgery. If a hospital finds a living donor to be in good health and the other one in need of a transplantation raises the same decision that was given, the two partnerships coordinate a surgery date. While both donors and receivers undergo most of the same hospital tests, a living donor would be given clearance to be found physically and emotionally fit to give up somewhere between 50 and 70% of one of their kidneys. If a donor and kidney receiver are attempting to split the surgery costs, it is cheaper between donors and recipients. This is usually five to ten days. The management and governing of a living donor works in a more convenient manner than for a general living health problem. Once a donor is found to be physically and emotionally suitable for transplantation, they would generally undergo a psychological and social interview as well.

The Transplant Surgery: Procedure and Recovery

Selena Gomez, the anchor, natural beauty, and cover star of Woman of the Year issue, underwent a kidney transplant early this summer. The singer and actress revealed the news on September 14 and explained why she took a hiatus from the public eye for large parts of the last year and a half: she has lupus, and the disease led to kidney failure.

This is what happens during a kidney transplant, which requires a highly specialized surgeon, a team of experts, and cutting-edge technology. Selena Gomez received a kidney from her best friend, actress Francia Raisa. Selena Gomez, who was experiencing kidney failure due to lupus, had to receive immediate treatment in the form of dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment that assists the kidneys in performing their two primary functions: filtering waste and excess water from the blood to be excreted as urine. Mild cases of kidney failure are treated with regular dialysis, which may be replaced by a kidney transplant. Selena was placed on the kidney transplant list but found no viable match with the help of the Transplant Network. During a trip to Cabo, Mexico, for a week of relaxation, Selena was placed on the hospital’s transplant list, but her new organ was soon found. “The thought of asking somebody to do that was really difficult for me,” Gomez shared. “I asked her, and she was instantly, like, ‘I’ll get tested.'”

Now that the transplant has been performed, a new host of dilemmas awaits Selena, as her new kidney may reject her body. Kidney transplant patients are typically hospitalized for three to seven days post-op, with complete recovery taking at least six weeks. Life-saving anti-rejection medication is necessary for these patients to take for the rest of their lives. Infections and immediate body adjustments to the kidney are the most common issues during recovery. Lymphoma or other types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infection are less common but still possible issues that can arise later in life. To monitor Selena, her doctor recommended frequent check-ups.

Selena Gomez’s Public Announcement and Awareness Campaign

Selena Gomez found the courage to share her lupus-related health issues with the public just over four months following her last kidney transplant. While nerve-wracking, imprisoning, and at times invisible, her struggle became an opportunity to talk about two health topics in need of greater awareness. Advocacy for autoimmune diseases and organ donation has advanced due to her announcement. Celebrities and athletes often help people with health conditions feel less isolated by sharing their health narratives. Additionally, they demonstrate that it is possible for someone dealing with a chronic health issue to live a life filled with family, friends, and work. Given the reputation this young celebrity has for drawing attention to socially significant health issues, we were interested in reactions to her announcement. In September of 2017, Gomez shared that her friend had donated a kidney. To generate awareness and provide others with information on kidney transplantation, she launched a webpage with a health organization. Her efforts to reach out to lawmakers were covered by the media. The organization went on to describe how she helped fight back against lupus-related kidney disease. “Diagnosed at 13, the star’s lupus ‘plummeted’ her into kidney failure, which is why it came as ‘no surprise to anyone who loves her’ when she publicly revealed on October 30 that she had undergone a kidney transplant.” Gomez could not recall a time in her life when she did not have kidneys. “I’ve never been able to remember a time when I didn’t have some involvement with lupus,” Gomez confessed. It was incredible to receive the message from a fan who had this response: “But I am proud of you and glad you brought this so much attention,” the fan told her. “I’m so proud of you!”

Media and Public Response

In the few days immediately following the leak of the two women’s surgery and medical history, coverage of Selena Gomez’s recent kidney transplantation intensified. Most articles reported information mentioning Selena’s symptoms of lupus but emphasizing that she planned to go public about the transplant, credit Francia Raisa as her donor, publish the announcement, and create a television series about a girl with her illness, one of the few kid-focused programs to focus on a character in organ failure. Though there are some celebrity stories also skewing skeptical – that Selena was ‘blowing off’ her career; repeating claims of drug use from earlier statements denying it was alcohol and drugs that sent her to rehab – on the whole, the media portrays Selena as a talented, hardworking role model, showing her fans and peers grace and resilience during this difficult time, much as she did during her fight with lupus itself. Readers’ reactions to these articles and to posts whose comment sections mention her range widely. Many are supportive of Selena, expressing sympathy in her struggle with lupus and releasing this information on her schedule. ‘Sending a prayer for both. This is a wonderful thing she did for her friend but yet she doesn’t want any recognition for it. God is good that the operation was a success.’ Many are eager to learn more from her own words and are reserving judgment until she shares more of her perspective: ‘Hope she talks to another talk show. Can’t wait to hear her.’ Still others remain skeptical of her motives and character, despite the support of Ms. Raisa and a source’s claim that the two are not close, merely part of the same circle of friends. The fourth complicating role played by media as a source of information is that intense public discussion and speculation about Selena’s condition may have added to the general pressure to declare. In a two-day span, nearly half as many people were searching for information about organ donation as had been when commented on transplant; approximately 428,000 people learned more about lupus.

Reflections on Life and Health

In 2017, when Selena Gomez underwent a kidney transplant following years of chronic pain, fatigue, and other lupus symptoms, her friend was her donor. Following the transplant, initially, “I kept going, and I’m not really sure if that’s a good thing,” Gomez reflects. “But then I realized that it’s okay to stop.” She’s taken steps back. She’s undertaken years of intensive treatment for her lupus, changed her medications, and regained portions of her pre-lupus health. But she’s still navigating the ramifications of lupus and the kidney transplant, including three psychiatric hospitalizations while she was in treatment for lupus.

Amid this cascade of stress, Gomez was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, can be triggered or exacerbated by stressful life events. Recognizing when she needed to stop trying to “control” everything and allow her family and friends to take care of her marks a shift in Gomez’s approach to her illness and her life, she says. “I wish people hadn’t seen it,” she says of her psychiatric crises, “but at the same time, I’m glad that they learned from what I was going through. My connection with my friend was beautiful. Our relationship has never been about physical appearance, and her donating her kidney to me was never for clout. And that’s the problem: I see many women that the high—almost the most high thing—is to have physical beauty.” In conclusion, Selena Gomez was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, with severe and life-threatening complications. Her decision to share her story with the media helped raise awareness about lupus and promoted organ donation. As a collegial team of physicians, dentists, and medical consultants, we hope our medical assessments could enrich the body of knowledge about lupus nephritis and the importance of kidney transplantation from living donors. It is our sincere hope that some truly meaningful and influential changes could result from the level of public attention focused on her story. We thus agree that it is not only about the transplantation of organs or tissue, but what it is to change – and save lives. In times when people have instant reactions and judgments, it is crucial to give those we know and especially those we don’t, some compassion. Given that America has many millions of viewers who watch reality and health-related TV shows, such television exposure does present an opportunity to educate and raise awareness about lupus. She is to be admired for the courage, dignity, and grace she has shown in coming forward. Selena Gomez’s journey over the years has transformed her from a lovable teenage artist, who captured everyone’s hearts with her cheeky smile and a heart-warming performance, to a mature and empathetic young leader. Her fandom and endurance have grown over the years, adapting to the constant changes and struggles she keeps facing, which are far deeper than splitting public appearances with her ex-boyfriend. Her health has bonded her to her followers in a way far deeper and soul-stirring, serving as an advocate for chronic issues, reproductive health, and the significance of organ donation, one tweet, or press conference at a time. Her vulnerabilities have only encouraged her to tap into other arenas. Her mindset was letting her subtly bleed out humanity with each post, decisively softening fatal cracks in her own soul to seep into those she currently meets.