Selena Gomez Cries in First TV Interview About Life-Saving Kidney Transplant

In a new interview Today's Savannah Guthrie, the singer opens up about receiving a kidney donation from Francia Raisa

By Elyse Dupre Oct 27, 2017 1:22 PMTags

A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow) on

Just months after undergoing a kidney transplant, Selena Gomez is opening up about how Francia Raisa saved her life. 

"My kidneys were just done. That was it," the tearful singer says in a sneak peek of Today's exclusive interview with the star. "I didn't want to ask a single person in my life and that was the day, when I came home, I found out she volunteered and did it."

"You feel that Francia saved your life," Today host Savannah Guthrie says to the "Bad Liar" singer.

"Because she did. That's it," Gomez says. "I guess I got to the point where it was really, kind of, life or death." 

Gomez admits what she went through with Raisa "wasn't easy;" however, she hopes sharing their story helps others.

"I just hope that this inspires people to feel good that there are really good people in the world," the singer says as tears drip down her cheek.

The 25-year-old pop singer underwent the transplant due to her Lupus this summer. Raisa was her donor. The former Disney star announced the news via Instagram by posting a picture of her and The Secret Life of the American Teenager actress holding hands on their hospital beds.

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on

"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," part of the photo's caption read.

Raisa, 29, also shared the photo and said she was "beyond grateful" to have had the opportunity to help her friend.

"I am beyond grateful that God would trust me with something that not only saved a life, but changed mine in the process," she wrote. "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."

 

The two stars are obviously close. As E! News previously reported, they met in 2007 when Disney and Freeform (formerly ABC Family) had the stars visit a children's hospital. Raisa told Latina, "Selena and I were in the same group and we just clicked." They've been dear friends ever since. In fact, Raisa's mother Virginia Almendarez told Al Rojo Vivo, "They're like sisters."

Gomez has been recovering since the transplant but is set to perform her new single, "Wolves," at the 2017 American Music Awards. The singer publicly revealed that she battles Lupus in 2015.

Watch the video to see the sneak peek and watch the full interview next week on Today.

(E! and NBC News are part of NBCUniversal).