Bella Hadid Shines Amid Health Struggles Ahead of VS Fashion Show Comeback

Bella Hadid glowed as she headed to the Victoria’s Secret fashion show on Wednesday – amid her health battles.

The 29-year-old supermodel, who has endured a decade-long struggle with what she describes as chronic neurological Lyme disease, was dressed in a form-fitting brown tank top and beige slacks as she headed to work.

The cover girl is expected to make an appearance on the catwalk alongside Candice Swanepoel, Alessandra Ambrosio and Emily Ratajkowski.

This sighting comes a month after she was seen in a medical center in Europe to deal with Lyme disease, with her struggle forcing her to take a step back from her modelling career.

The model sparked fan concern when she was seen getting an IV in her arm in late September in images she shared to Instagram.

In another photo she appeared to be crying and then she was seen with a bag of ice on her forehead. 

‘I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys,’ wrote the Vogue cover girl in her Instagram caption as she shared a collection of photos while getting treatment.

Her sister Gigi Hadid was quick to comment: ‘I love you! I hope feel as strong and good as u deserve, soon!!!!!!’

Fans wrote touching notes such as, ‘Take care and heal, the world is waiting for Miss Bella Hadid always. Stay strong ❤️’ and ‘Love you queen, I’m sending positive energy for your healing process!’

Then there was a follower who was suffering from the same disease: ‘Would love to know what you are doing for your Lyme? I have it as well and it would be great to share to help us all out❤️❤️❤️❤️.’

Kourtney Kardashian, Candice Swanepoel, Helena Christensen and Elle Macpherson hit the like button.

Several of her photos showed her with IVs attached to her arm and what appeared to be ports to make transfusions or blood draws easier.

One image featured her with an IV attached to her neck with a tube clipped to her hair over her head.

Another photo showed the catwalk star flashing a peace sign while lying on a bed in a medical setting with a stuffed animal on her lap.

Bella appeared to be receiving a blood transfusion. Clear fluid were connected by tubes to her upper arm.

In one sad snapshot she appeared to be crying while she had an off-white cloth on her head. 

The brunette wasn’t afraid to show her fans an unvarnished view of her treatments, and one photo showed her in a medical setting with only part of her arm left uncovered.

There were bouquets of flowers and cards in her room as she passed the time by playing cards. 

Source have told Daily Mail that Hadid is trying to handle her work load the best she can.

‘Bella is as functional as she can be, but there’s always room for improvement,’ the insider said.

‘She just struggles to be around people. When things get bad, she retreats. Her batteries seem to recharge when she’s alone.’

‘Everyone who loves her gets it,’ the source said. 

In 2023 she gave fans a bigger look at her ordeal. Among Bella’s photos were pictures of her medical records that her mother had kept over the years.

One documented date from early 2014 detailed her symptoms, presumably from Lyme disease, which she had been suffering for ‘1 1/2 years’ at that point.

Among her complaints were fatigue, attention issues, memory problems, difficulty sleeping, depression and physical, along with several other issues that are commonly reported issues for Lyme sufferers. 

Another page from later in 2014 appeared to show results indicating a colon infection, and it seemed to indicate the presence of bacteria commonly transmitted by ticks or other parasites, include the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

She also appeared to be suffering from a fungal infection and parasites. 

A page dated to 2016 included more test results and again appeared to indicate Bella was infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. 

‘The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself,’ she began her lengthy caption.

The fashion model included some sweet praise for her mother Yolanda as well.

‘Thankful to my mommy 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,’ she wrote.

She added that her condition continued to deteriorate, even as she continued to work to make her family ‘proud,’ though it wasn’t clear if she was referring to a time years earlier, or to the lead-up to her latest medical hiatus. 

However, she made it clear that: ‘1: I am okay and you do not have to worry, ♥️and 2:I wouldn’t change anything for the world. 

‘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,’ she wrote on a more upbeat note.

Bella also tried to remind her followers who are struggling that it ‘will get better.’

‘I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life , this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease , co infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was 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,’ she continued.

Bella noted that she tried to pick ‘positive’ photos, because as ‘painful’ as her ordeal was, ‘the outcome was the most enlightening experience of my life filled with new friends, new visions and a new brain.’

‘Thank you for the patience of the incredible company’s that I work for , my supporters and the people who continued to check in,’ she added, while also singling out her agents for praise.

‘Thank you to my genius Dr, and her INCREDIBLE team of nurses. I love you SO much!!!’ she also gushed. 

‘I’ll be back when I’m ready,’ she concluded on a hopeful note. ‘I miss you all so much. I love you all so much.’