Selena Gomez has opened up about her life-saving kidney transplant for the first time.
Just months after the surgery, Selena and her best friend and donor Francia Raisa sat down for an exclusive interview with NBC’s The Today Show.
In a sneak peek of the interview, the singer fought back tears as she said, “My kidneys were just done. That was it.”
“I didn’t want to ask a single person in my life, and that was the day when I came home and found out, and she volunteered and did it.”
“You feel that Francia saved your life,” Today host Savannah Guthrie said to Selena.
“Because she did. That’s it,” Selena replied. “I guess I got to the point where it was really, kind of, life or death.”
“I just hope that this inspires people to feel good that there are really good people in the world,” Selena said through tears.
The 25-year-old underwent the transplant due to her ongoing battle with Lupus, and the former Disney star announced the news via Instagram by posting a picture of her and Francia holding hands on their hospital beds.
“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,” she wrote at the time.
Selena and fellow actress Francia have been close friends since they first met in 2007, when Disney and Freeform (formerly ABC) had the stars visit a children’s hospital.
Selena has been laying low since the transplant, but is set to perform her new single, Wolves, at the 2017 American Music Awards.
Selena and Francia’s full interview will air next week on Today.
