Francia Raisa Gets Candid About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Diagnosis
By Afouda Bamidele on August 8, 2023 at 7:30 PM EDT
Updated on August 9, 2023 at 7:20 AM EDT
Francia Raisa has given fans a new health update.
The actress, who is most notably known for donating a kidney to her former BFF and actress, Selena Gomez, in 2017 as the latter battled lupus-related organ damage, shared that she has been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The update comes shortly after the "How I Met Your Father" star celebrated her 35th birthday and soaked in the sun with friends on a Malibu, California beach over the weekend.
Francia Raisa Disclosed Her PCOS Diagnosis During Her Friend's Book Launch
While Raisa often shies away from sharing intimate details about her life online, she made a slight detour when she unexpectedly broke some health-related news to her 1.7 million followers on Instagram. Taking to her Story, she reposted a video from her friend and author, Candice Craig's Story highlighting the launch of her book, "Living With PCOS: Road To Reversal."
"My friend wrote a book about PCOS," she wrote above the repost before dropping an image that showed a copy of the book, alongside some cutlery and cocktails, on a table. Across this second Story, the "Bring It On: All or Nothing" actress disclosed, "I also have PCOS and still learning how to live with it. Thanks for this @candice."
Almost one week before the revelation, Raisa's friend, Craig had uploaded ten multimedia content to her Instagram feed, starting with a two-in-one shot emphasizing the disparity in her weight. While the image on the left showed her looking bulkier in a white outfit with a midriff cutout, the other showcased her trimmer figure in a green sleeveless piece.
Next, fans saw the "Chocolate City" star in the middle of a shoot where she described what PCOS meant before she appeared in a second video holding a wrapped copy of her new book. Other slides included food shots, a view of Craig creating content, and close-up shots of her tome. Beneath the slides, the 35-year-old partially penned:
"This book is more than just words on paper, it's my truth, my struggles, and my triumphs, wrapped in one. I remember the days when PCOS had me feeling defeated, questioning if there was any hope for change. But in my darkest moments, I found a spark that led me onto this path of healing. I literally asked you guys what you would like like to know about my findings while on this journey and you told me what you need so I put it all in one place for you . This is something I wish I had when 1st being diagnosed."
The post immediately touched the hearts of Craig's fans, who congratulated her and praised her for a job well done in the comments.
One person gushed, "SO happy to see this! I first learned about PCOS from you! Not a doctor, from YOU. So a couple of years later, seeing this book come to fruition and you reversing and managing it, is phenomenal." A second fan commented, "So proud of you 😍😍🥳... Big sell out energy!," and a third exclaimed, "Candice this is incredible! Huge congrats! Always proud of you."
Raisa Debunked Allegations That She Was Forced To Donate A Kidney To Her Ex-Friend
Years after the public's interest in her and Gomez's friendship began, Raisa opened up about her voluntary act of donating a kidney to the "Only Murders in the Building" actress. The Blast noted that the pair's bond first grabbed attention when Gomez publicly disclosed that she had gotten a kidney transplant and praised her former best friend's selflessness towards her.
However, it did not take long before rumors began circulating about the possibility of Raisa being coerced into making the move. Seeing as the speculation has continued over the years, the "Beyond Paradise" actress had to put them to rest when she appeared on the "Good Guys" podcast earlier this month.
During her time there, she confirmed that her gesture was voluntary, deeply rooted in their enduring friendship, along with a genuine desire to help her needy friend. As she said:
"I just felt it in my heart, I knew I was a match. I knew it was gonna happen. No one forced me to do anything. It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart, and I've been super blessed ever since."
Additionally, the experience prompted her to become more conscious of her health, resulting in her taking "better care" of herself than ever before.