SELENA Gomez, American singer and star of Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place series, has announced that she has undergone a kidney transplant.

The singer has been publicly battling a condition called lupus for the past two years. Lupus is an ‘autoimmune disease’ – which basically means that the immune system (which is supposed to stop you from getting sick) cannot decide which bits of you are good, and which bits are bad. This means that it attacks every bit of you.

Often people with lupus can suffer from extreme tiredness, joint pain and rashes. 

Lots of people with lupus end up having kidney transplants, as the disease often targets the kidneys. 

One of the singer’s best friends, actress Francia Raisa, donated one of her own kidneys to Selena. In a touching Instagram post, the singer explained: “There aren’t words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend, she gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis.”

Selena shared pictures about her surgery on Instagram, explaining why she had been “laying low” for part of the summer.

From all of us at First News, we hope you make a full recovery, Selena!

Organ donation is a complicated issue that pops up in the news from time to time. We have an I Don’t Get It video on this topic if you’d like to learn more. 

We’re running a poll on organ donation this week. We’re asking: Would you be prepared to be an organ donor? Make sure you cast your vote!