Bella Hadid posts alarming photos from hospital bed as Lyme battle persists
The supermodel shares images from a hospital stay as family offers support; she has long dealt with Lyme disease.
Bella Hadid posted alarming photos from a hospital bed on Instagram on Wednesday, underscoring the ongoing challenge of her long-running battle with Lyme disease. The 28-year-old model, who has spoken publicly about Lyme for years, did not specify the reason for the hospitalization but shared a carousel of images that included an IV drip and other distressed moments.
In the series, Bella is shown hooked up to an IV, with one frame capturing her covering her mouth in apparent distress and another showing her forehead wrapped as she appeared flushed. She also included lighter moments, such as a fuzzy Pikachu onesie, photos of playing cards, and a late-night pizza dinner from her hospital bed. A final image depicts her huddled in the corner of an elevator with a coffee in hand. She captioned the post, "I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys."
Sister Gigi Hadid, 30, was among the first to reply, writing, "I love you! I hope feel as strong and good as u deserve, soon!!!!!!" Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, who has also battled Lyme disease, added, "❤️ Lyme warrior." Fans joined in with messages of support in the comments.
The Frankie’s Bikinis model did not say why she was hospitalized, but the family’s history with Lyme provides context for the ongoing concern around her health. Bella has discussed Lyme disease for more than a decade, including a detailed post from a hospital in 2023 in which she described what she called nearly 15 years of invisible suffering and the toll it had taken on her life, work, and relationships. In that August 2023 update, she spoke about how her struggles, while painful, motivated her to keep going and to share love from a hopeful, full place.
The Hadid family’s Lyme story is long-standing. Yolanda Hadid has been openly diagnosed with Lyme disease and has spoken publicly about the impact on her children. In a 2015 Global Lyme Alliance Gala speech, she said, "This award is for Anwar and Bella," promising to continue advocating for those affected and to help ensure her children do not endure a life of pain and suffering. The family’s experience predates Bella’s 2012 diagnosis, which she shared alongside her brother Anwar’s when they were young adults.
Lyme disease has touched other well-known figures, underscoring its reach. Justin Timberlake announced his Lyme diagnosis in July, describing it as debilitating, while Shania Twain has spoken about symptoms in relation to her 2003 diagnosis in the 2022 Netflix documentary Not Just a Girl. These public disclosures illustrate that Lyme disease can affect people across different walks of life, periods of activity, and levels of fame.
No additional information about Bella Hadid’s medical status was provided by representatives as of publication. The posts come amid a broader, documented history of the disease within her family and in the public eye, highlighting how Lyme can intersect with high-profile lives while remaining a deeply personal medical challenge.
As the dialogue around Lyme continues, Bella’s experience adds another powerful chapter to the ongoing discussion about diagnosis, treatment, and the long arc of recovery for people living with chronic Lyme disease. The public’s reaction, and the support from her family, reflect a broader concern about ensuring access to care and recognizing Lyme as a serious, lasting condition rather than a passing illness.
