Selena Gomez Commemorates Her Kidney Transplant with a Tattoo

Selena Gomez's fans spotted the singer's new ink in her music video

2017 was a rough year for singer Selena Gomez. In June of that year, the actress underwent a kidney transplant, after years of battling with lupus, and in September, she announced why she’d withdrawn from many public events. The kidney was donated by her best friend Francia Raisa, an actress who starred in “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “Grown-ish.”

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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

Over two years later, Gomez was spotted with a new tattoo which commemorates the day of her surgery—which fans noticed in her music video “Rare” as well as in a photo on her Instagram page. The tattoo, which is located on the back of her right arm, appears to be a date that begins with 06, which many link to her surgery.

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So my rare video is out! So I’m posting a few pics from that day

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Jan 10, 2020 at 10:36am PST