Selena Gomez’s Mom Shares the Emotional Experience of Her Daughter’s Kidney Transplant Surgery

“As a mother I was helpless, scared and all I could do was pray for both of them,” Mandy says.

As Selena Gomez fans, we went through a whole range of emotions last week. The star revealed that over the summer, she needed a kidney transplant after complications from lupus, and her BFF, actress Francia Raisa stepped in to be her donor. We were overwhelmed by this touching display of friendship, scared for Selena’s health, and hopeful that the singer appears to be recovering well. Plus, we were completely moved by the specific Instagram photo Selena shared when announcing her news, where she and Francia are holding hands and smiling at each other as they lay side by side in their hospital beds awaiting surgery.

Well, Selena’s mom Mandy Teefey feels the same way… plus all the added emotions of being Sel’s mother and having BEEN there to experience this all happen. We can’t even imagine.

Now, Mandy has taken to social media to share her experience of what was happening behind the scenes, and also shared a tear-jerking message to Francia.

“This picture is one of the most breathtaking images that will live with me forever,” Mandy wrote on Instagram, reposting the heart wrenching hospital photo to her own account. “For all those moments of not knowing if we were going up or going down, I can always come back to this picture and know we can always make it back up.”

 “As a mother I was helpless, scared and all I could do was pray for both of them, Francia’s beautiful family,” Mandy added. “I am pretty sure I am banned from that hospital. Mama Bear was in high gear. Selena gained a kidney, I was able to keep my little girl, but I also gained another daughter….thank you to everyone who was there for Sel, Francia and our families. We survived from all the love, prayers and God.”

Post-surgery, Francia also shared an added message to Selena on her Instagram. “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,” Francia added, directing followers to the Lupus Research Alliance website to spread awareness.

To learn more about lupus, read up on current research, or donate to the cause, make sure to check out lupusresearch.org. We wish Selena and Francia the best in their ongoing recovery and journey together, and will be following their story!

Written by Kristine Hope Kowalski