Francia Raisa Reveals She And Selena Gomez 'Went Through A Depression' Following Kidney Transplant
Francia Raisa revealed that she and best friend Selena Gomez had a hard time after their kidney transplant, so much so that they both suffered depression.
Tough Months
Raisa talked about the life-changing moment she decided to donate a kidney to Gomez in a candid interview with Self magazine. She recalled her social worker's words about the post-surgery.
The Grown-ish star remembered being told that it would be hard for the both of them but especially for her since she lost a part of her body.
"It's going to be hard, the recipient is going to glow and she's going to recover a lot faster than the donor because she's getting something she needs and you are losing something you don't need to lose. It's going to be hard," the social worker said.
Indeed, it was tough. Raisa remembered being helpless after the kidney surgery. She had to have someone help her take a shower and wipe her afterward. She also could not exercise or walk her dog. The 29-year-old remembered it was a rough two months of recuperating and not being active. She also revealed that she and the "Wolves" singer "went through a depression" after the surgery.
Raisa talked about the depression in a previous interview with W Magazine. She said at the time no one else knew about the surgery. They did not tell the public. It was kept under wraps, and only close friends and family knew.
"We didn't want to tell anybody because recovery was very hard for us, and we went through a depression at the time. We kind of just wanted to be normal and not have that attention on us. I really left it up to her. I've never had anything personal come out about me before," Raisa told the publication.
Scar
Now, the star of ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager has a scar to remind her of the life-saving moment (Gomez acknowledged in a joint interview with Raisa that her best friend saved her life). Looking at it positively, the actress said that at least she already knows how it feels when she has kids someday and needs a C-section. She also looks at the scar as something special that defines her character.
"Your scars don't define you. it's a part of your story, and it's a part of the story that makes you special and you different," Raisa said.
Gomez and Raisa underwent a kidney surgery last summer after the singer's lupus took its turn for the worst. She was told that she needed to have her kidneys replaced or else she will die. Raisa did not hesitate to donate a kidney after tests proved that she and Gomez were a match.
