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NKF, Lupus Foundation of America, and others.
From Selena Gomez to Bethenny Frankel, discover how public figures are living with chronic kidney disease and why early diagnosis and support matter.
Being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can feel isolating. You may be wondering how life will change, what the future looks like, or whether you’ll still be able to do the things you love. One important thing to know right away is this: people from all walks of life, including well-known public figures, are living full, meaningful lives with kidney disease.
By sharing their stories, these individuals have helped raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind others that CKD is manageable, especially when it’s caught early and treated consistently.
Below are just a few examples of well-known people who have lived with kidney disease, and what their experiences can teach us.
Selena Gomez was diagnosed with lupus in her early 20s, a condition that eventually caused kidney failure. In 2017, she received a living-donor kidney transplant from a close friend. Since then, she has spoken openly about recovery, mental health, and the importance of listening to your body.
Her experience has helped shine a light on autoimmune-related kidney disease and the importance of early, ongoing care.
Comedian and actor George Lopez learned he had a genetic kidney condition that eventually required a transplant. In 2005, his wife donated a kidney, allowing him to return to work and advocacy.
Lopez has since used his platform to promote organ donation and kidney health awareness.
NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning has used his platform to raise awareness about kidney disease and the importance of early detection. In talking with the American Kidney Fund about his own experience with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Mourning said,
“For many years, I have publicly shared my personal kidney disease story to help educate people about APOL1-mediated kidney disease.”
After receiving a life-saving kidney transplant in 2003 and returning to professional basketball, Mourning became an outspoken advocate for education and testing, encouraging others to know their family health history, talk with their doctors, and take charge of their kidney health early.
Best known for her role on Modern Family, Sarah Hyland was born with kidney dysplasia and underwent multiple surgeries as a child. As an adult, she received two kidney transplants. She has spoken candidly about chronic illness, fatigue, and self-advocacy, helping younger patients feel seen and understood.
In an interview with Self Magazine, Hyland shared:
“I’ve been going through this for 28 years, and I still am learning how to let go of control and how to be patient.”
Bethenny Frankel has shared that she was diagnosed with kidney disease related to pregnancy complications.
In a public statement about her kidney disease (via People Magazine), she explained:
“Maybe I’ll have to deal with this forever, but I just wanted to tell you because I think it’s important to go get all your bloodwork done.”
Her story highlights how kidney disease can develop unexpectedly—and why it is important for people to get checked out and listen to their bodies.
Nick Cannon was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, a kidney complication of lupus. He has been open about why he chose to share his health journey publicly, even when others advised him to stay quiet. In an interview with the Lupus Foundation of America, he explained that keeping his diagnosis private never felt right to him.
“A lot of people told me that I shouldn’t share and I should keep [my lupus diagnosis] private — that it could affect my work and insurance and all that. But I feel like this happened to me so I can be an inspiration, and I can talk about it.”
By speaking openly, Cannon has used his platform to raise awareness about lupus and kidney complications, and to remind others living with chronic illness that their stories, and their voices, matter.
Former NBA star Sean Elliott has been open about how kidney disease reshaped his life and career. After being diagnosed and later receiving a kidney transplant, Elliott emphasized how critical early action and ongoing care were to his ability to keep moving forward.
“Kidney disease has affected my life, my family, and my career,” Elliott shared in an interview with Fresenius Kidney Care. “I had a responsibility to my team to look after my health. Getting tested and monitoring my condition made it possible for me to find the right treatment, and even get back to the game I love.”
His story highlights how awareness, medical follow-up, and support can make it possible not just to survive kidney disease, but to continue living a full, meaningful life.
While each journey is unique, these stories share important themes that matter for anyone newly diagnosed with CKD:
Most importantly, these stories remind us that a CKD diagnosis does not define you.
Chronic kidney disease often develops quietly. Many people are diagnosed during routine blood or urine tests, before they feel “sick.” Learning about symptoms, treatment options, and lifestyle changes early can help slow progression and protect your quality of life.
Common early symptoms may include:
Not everyone experiences symptoms right away, and that’s why education and regular care are so important.
Sources:
To ensure that we always provide you with high-quality, reliable information, Responsum Health closely vets all sources. We do not, however, endorse or recommend any specific providers, treatments, or products, and the use of a given source does not imply an endorsement of any provider, treatment, medication, procedure, or device discussed within.
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