This summer, you'd be forgiven for thinking Selena Gomez had been tirelessly touring across the world with her boyfriend The Weeknd, designing handbags for her new Coach x Selena Gomez collaboration, and preparing to release her latest album 'Bad Liar' with banging tunes including the likes of 'Fetish'.

And while the above may be true - from the looks of Instagram, at least - we were surprised to learn the 25-year-old singer underwent a kidney transplant over the summer as a result of her Lupus diagnosis.

In a post to Instagram this morning, the actress - who just held a meet-and-greet at Coach House on Fifth Avenue last night - can be seen lying in bed next to her friend Francia Raisa following her selfless kidney donation.

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In another post, Selena can be seen showing off the large scar on the right side of her abdomen where the operation took place.

She captioned the post: '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.

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'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/'

I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months

Last September, the singer cancelled her world tour early due to the side effects of lupus, following undergoing chemotherapy to treat the chronic disease, when the body's immune system attacks healthy tissue.

What a brave duo these two are.

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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.