Beautiful inside-out: Meet Selena Gomez’s friend who gave the singer her kidney

Selena Gomez’s actor friend Francia Raisa gave the singer her kidney for a transplant. Here are things to know about her.

Selena Gomez revealed to her fans on Thursday through a post on Instagram that she underwent a kidney transplant due to her long battle with lupus, in summer. The kidney was donated to her by her friend Francia Raisa, who she also called her sister.

Selena Gomez and Francia Raisa have been friends for eight years. (Instagram)

“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,” Gomez had written as caption to a photo of the two on hospital beds, holding hands.

Raisa has also shared the picture on her own page and said she is glad they were on this journey together. “I am beyond grateful that God would trust me with something that not only saved a life, but changed mine in the process. This was part of our story, and we will share it soon, but what is important now is that this is not the only story...Love you sis, so glad we’re on this journey together,” she wrote.

Raisa is a 29-year-old American actor. She began as an actor with several sitcoms like American Family: Journey of Dreams and Over There. She was also seen in cheerleading film Bring It On: All or Nothing with Hayden Panettiere. She was also seen in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Dear White People and The Mindy Project.

She has been friends with Gomez for eight years and met her on a visit to a children’s hospital. “Six years ago Disney and ABC Family had the stars of their shows go to the Children’s Hospital. Selena and I were in the same group and we just clicked,” Raisa had told Latina magazine in 2013.

“I went through heartbreak this year and you left the studio and drove out of your way to come see me and comfort me. I received good news last month and you facetimed me minutes before you went up on stage just to congratulate me. There are so many moments we have and things you do that I cherish and don’t take for granted. Wether its crying, laughing, or simply sitting on my kitchen floor throwing our hands up in the air confused at life, I’m thankful you’re always there. I am obsessed with every memory we’ve built in the last 8 years and the ones we have yet to create. I am so grateful that God put you in my life when he did. If you think about the time that we met and where we were in our lives when we first hung out, his timing was perfect. It’s been so inspiring watching you grow and to grow with you. I learn so much from you and I’m so so so proud of you. Happy Birthday Hermana. Love you so so so much,” she had written last year in a post on Instagram to celebrate Selena’s birthday.

They were also seen together in Dustin Tavella’s Everybody Knows (Douchebag) video.

Here’s some more pictures of her:

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