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There's a Secret Behind Lena Dunham's Met Gala Photos

You might want to have your hanky handy.

By Adele Chapin May 5, 2017, 10:21 AM ET

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Lena Dunham went all in with this year's Met Gala theme, channeling the avant-garde spirit of designer Rei Kawakubo with a voluminous plaid Elizabeth Kennedy ballgown — a "sensual tablecloth of a gown," she joked on Instagram.

But the Girls star really was putting on a brave face for the red carpet. Her Met Gala evening ended with a trip to the emergency room, due to complications from her most recent endometriosis surgery. Poor Lena! She posted a heartfelt thank you from her hospital bed to all the fans who've supported her throughout her struggles with the disease. Lena's been an outspoken champion of endometriosis sufferers, and she also gave a shout-out to all the ladies out there who keep going even in the face of chronic pain. Lena's job that evening just happened to be walking the Met Gala red carpet, and she really wasn't feeling up to it, but she did went out there anyway.

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"I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we aren't weak- quite the opposite, actually," she wrote. "We do our jobs with skill even when we're struggling. We care [for our] families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate."

Thank you for all the love & concern that's been pouring in since Tuesday. Although I'm much healthier than I was a year ago, complications arose from my most recent endometriosis surgery. When the healthcare of so many American women, especially our trans sisters, is at-risk- or already nonexistent- I am lucky to be in the position to seek help when I'm in pain. To those in that privileged spot- never forget that we are blessed and can pay it forward by supporting Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ clinics like Callen-Lorde with our ð° and âï¸. I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we aren't weak- quite the opposite, actually. We do our jobs with skill even when we're struggling. We care families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate. I'll always be proud of those Met Gala pics- not just because I felt beautiful, surrounded by art and magic, hugging my best friend tightly, but because they're evidence that women contain steely multitudes. Just that morning @dianafalzone sued Fox after they took her off air for disclosing her endometriosis. But they're the ones who lost when they fired her, because everyone who's anyone knows that if you can battle chronic illness there's nothing you can't take on.
A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on May 4, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

Despite the bummer end of the night, being rushed to the hospital, Lena wrote the sweetest message about her Met Gala 2017 memories. "I'll always be proud of those Met Gala pics- not just because I felt beautiful, surrounded by art and magic, hugging my best friend tightly, but because they're evidence that women contain steely multitudes," she wrote.

Thank you, Elizabeth Kennedy, for making me feel so embodied in this sensual tablecloth of a gown. Commes Des GarÃ§ons has always been for the creature who dares to be different, who needs clothing to be more than a way to telegraph wealth or culturally imposed super-sexuality. Now THAT is a theme I can get behind. Much love to @voguemagazine for bringing so much power and passion to the Met, which has always been church to me. It's easy to forget amidst the glitz just how much good this night does, raising millions to preserve essential artifacts and making sure style really is for everyone. â¤ï¸ Can I get an amen?
A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on May 1, 2017 at 10:33pm PDT

Here's that pic with her best friend, Girls producer Jenni Konner. They're matchy-matchy, aw!

2 of â¤ï¸s (2 â¤ï¸s that beat as 1)
A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on May 1, 2017 at 10:22pm PDT

Let's throw it back to what Lena and Jenni wore last year to the Met Gala: it's just as matching, but this time they were mini-mes to fashion royalty, former J.Crew guru Jenna Lyons!