Yolanda Hadid has penned a supportive message to daughter Bella Hadid, whom she calls a “warrior,” after she underwent a “month of treatment” due to constant health struggles.
A day after the 28-year-old model apologized for taking a break from social media and shared photos of her with multiple IV tubes in her hands and arms, her mom updated fans on the challenges Bella Hadid has been facing recently as she battles Lyme disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2013.
On Sept. 18, Yolanda Hadid uploaded a series of photos to Instagram of her comforting Bella Hadid as she lay in a hospital bed. Other pictures showed Bella Hadid hooked up to machines and seemingly being treated by medical staff.
Yolanda Hadid shared in a lengthy caption that it has been a struggle to see her daughter “suffer.”
“As you will understand watching my Bella struggle in silence, has cut the deepest core of hopelessness inside me,” she began before writing that Lyme disease was the source of Bella Hadid’s latest health issues.
The retired model continued, “I try to lead by example on our Lyme journey but my own pain cannot compare to watching my baby suffer.”
Yolanda Hadid, who has opened up in the past about also contracting the tick-borne illness, said she has stopped speaking publicly about her health because she wants to focus on improving and not be impacted by outside opinions.
She described herself as “the CEO” of her health and said she is looking for an affordable treatment for Lyme disease.
Below her message, she wrote a letter to Bella Hadid, praising her for how she has overcome obstacles.
“You are relentless and courageous. No child is suppose to suffer in their body with an incurable chronic disease,” Yolanda Hadid wrote. “I admire your bravery and your willingness to keep fighting for health despite the failing protocols and countless setbacks you have faced.”
She revealed that her youngest daughter has been living in pain and “unknown hell” since she was diagnosed 12 years ago.
“You didn’t really live, you learned how to exist inside the jail of your own paralyzed brain,” the mom of three said.
Yolanda Hadid complimented her daughter for never giving up and said she will continue to be by her side throughout the challenging times.
“You have fought through another month of treatment and I know god is good, miracles do happen everyday,” she added. “I pray for your speedy recovery my love.”
At the end of the post, she called Bella Hadid “a survivor.” “I love you so much my badass Warrior,” she concluded.
In addition to Yolanda and Bella Hadid, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum previously shared that her son, Anwar Hadid, was also diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2013.
Lyme disease is an illness that usually comes from the bite of a tick carrying borrelia bacteria, according to the Mayo Clinic. The bacterial infection can develop over three different stages, with symptoms increasing if the infected person is not treated. Some symptoms of stage 1 are a rash, fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains and swollen lymph nodes. The illness could potentially progress to numbness, irregular heartbeats and nerve pain.