Bella Hadid has shared an update to her 59.4 million followers after “almost 15 years of invisible suffering.”
The 26-year-old model and former reality star wrote a lengthy message on Instagram overnight, where she said she is “finally healthy” after more than a decade of health struggles, including what she claims was “100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, [co-infection] treatment”.
“The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself,” Hadid wrote in the post, before thanking her mother Yolanda Hadid, who also said she’d been diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 alongside Bella and Anwar Hadid, for her support.
Watch the video above.
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“Thankful to my [mummy] for keeping all of my medical records, sticking by me, never leaving my side, protecting, supporting, but most of all, believing me through all of this,” Hadid’s message continued.
“Living in this state, worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family and the people who support me, proud, had taken a toll on me in ways I can’t really explain,” she wrote.
“To be that sad and sick with the most blessings/privilege/opportunity/love around me was quite possibly the most confusing thing ever.”
Hadid then said that she’s OK and fans “do not have to worry” before explaining why she “wouldn’t change anything for the world”.
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”If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment I’m in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today,” Hadid said.
“The universe works in the most painful and beautiful ways but I need to say that if you are struggling – it will get better. I promise,” she said.
“Take a step away, stay strong, have faith in your path, walk in your truth and the clouds will start to clear up.”
Hadid then wrote that her “15 years of invisible suffering” and ailments were “all worth it if I’m able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself, For the first time ever.”
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“As painful as this experience was, the outcome was the most enlightening experience of my life filled with new friends, new visions and a new brain,” Hadid said, before thanking her agents, doctor, nurses, brands she worked for and fans for their support.
Hadid, who has been on a hiatus from modelling and recently “finished a long and intense treatment for Lyme disease” according to her sister Gigi Hadid, then said her return to modelling will happen in due time.
“I’ll be back when I’m ready,” Hadid said. “I miss you all so much. I love you all so much.”
In a second Instagram post, Hadid dedicated a series of snaps to her dog, who she said never left her side throughout her struggles and treatment.
“And God Bless my Angel Glizzy P. Beans aka Petunia aka Beans,” she wrote. “For never leaving my side not for one second.”
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It’s not the first time Hadid has opened up about her health, with the model speaking out over the years about living with chronic illness.
She opened up to People in 2016 about working as a model while struggling with her diagnosis, saying: “Life isn’t always what it looks like on the outside.”
Hadid also said at the time “the hardest part of this journey is to be judged by the way you look instead of the way you feel.”
Lyme disease, according to the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care, is a tick bite-associated illness found in the United Kingdom, United States and Asia.
Although it can be contracted overseas, the Federal Government does not support diagnoses of Australian-acquired Lyme disease due to the type of bacteria associated with the disease not being found in the country.
Chronic Lyme disease, meanwhile, is rejected in general by medical professionals worldwide due to a lack of evidence of its existence.
The medical information in this article is general in nature. Please always seek advice from your doctor to ensure that it addresses your specific health needs.