Bella Hadid is battling an ‘unknown hell’ and her mother can’t do anything but feel ‘hopelessness’

Supermodel Bella Hadid has returned to the hospital for another round of treatment as she continues her long battle with Lyme disease. The 28-year-old model shared photos on Instagram on September 17, 2025, showing herself connected to IV bags in a hospital bed. With the simple caption “I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys,” Hadid apologized to her followers for her absence from public life.

The model’s hospitalization comes after more than a decade of struggling with the tick-borne illness. Bella was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 alongside her mother Yolanda Hadid and younger brother Anwar. Since then, she has been fighting what her mother describes as chronic neurological Lyme disease, which can cause severe symptoms including memory problems, facial paralysis, and extreme fatigue.

Yolanda Hadid shared an emotional post on Instagram the following day, expressing the pain of watching her daughter suffer. “As you will understand watching my Bella struggle in silence cuts the deepest core of hopelessness inside me,” she wrote. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star described her daughter’s condition as an “unknown hell” and called Bella “relentless and courageous” for continuing to fight despite countless setbacks. Yolanda revealed that Bella has “fought through another month of treatment” and praised her as a “badass warrior.”

What makes Lyme disease particularly challenging

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through infected tick bites. While many patients recover completely with early antibiotic treatment, the disease can become chronic when left untreated. Neurological Lyme disease affects the nervous system and can cause symptoms like numbness, pain, weakness, and cognitive problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, complications most often occur in early disseminated Lyme disease and can include facial paralysis, visual disturbances, and meningitis symptoms.

The invisible nature of chronic Lyme disease makes it particularly difficult for patients and their families. Yolanda explained that “the invisible disability of chronic neurological Lyme disease is hard to explain or understand for anyone.” She noted that her own pain cannot compare to watching her daughter suffer. The condition has forced Bella to miss major events, including New York Fashion Week in September 2025.

Bella has been open about her struggles with the disease over the years. In 2023, she shared that she had completed over 100 days of treatment and felt “finally healthy” for the first time. However, her recent hospitalization shows that the battle continues. Her sister Gigi Hadid and father Mohamed Hadid have shown their support through social media comments, with Gigi writing “I love you! I hope feel as strong and good as u deserve, soon!”

The model’s journey has resonated with many others fighting chronic illnesses. Like many celebrities who have faced health challenges, Bella has used her platform to raise awareness about invisible disabilities. Her openness about her condition has helped bring attention to Lyme disease and the struggles faced by those living with chronic health conditions. As Yolanda stated, “This disease has brought us to our knees, but we always get back up.”