This Is How Selena Gomez Met Her Best Friend And Kidney Doner Francia Raisa

The pair go way back.

Friday, September 15, 2017 - 11:21

Francia Raisa has been making headlines this week after Selena Gomez revealed that she helped save her life by giving her a kidney.

The former Disney star needed the life changing operation as a result of her on going battle with autoimmune disease, Lupus, and she has thanked her best friend Francia for giving her the 'ultimate gift and sacrifice'.

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Like Selena, Francia is in the Hollywood circuit and you might even recognise her from a couple of her acting gigs since she's had roles in the likes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Bring It On: All or Nothing.

But how exactly did Selena come to know the bestie that would end up helping save her life?

Well, it turns out the pair go waaay back (we're talking over ten years) and they met at a children's hospital.

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In 2013, the 29-year-old revealed to Latina mag: "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."

Of course, back in 2007 a 15-year-old Selena and a 19-year-old Francia could never have anticipated the life changing journey they would go on together a decade later.

Francia has now opened up about donating her kidney to her long-time friend over summer, telling her Instagram followers "I'm so glad we're on this journey together."

I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, 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. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/ -by grace through faith

I’m very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn’t promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, 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. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/ -by grace through faith

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 14, 2017 at 3:07am PDT

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

Selena has also expressed her gratitude at Francia's selflessness, telling her followers: "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."

Feliz cumpleaños a mi hermana, My forever friend ❤️