'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Yolanda Foster has praised Avril Lavigne for speaking publicly about her battle with Lyme disease. 

Foster has been suffering from a chronic version of the illness, which began as a bacterial infection obtained from a tick bite, for more than three years now and she told Bravo's Daily Dish that Lavigne was brave to open up about her own struggle because she knows how terrible it can be:

"I took Avril under my wing when she first got sick and shared all I know. I am so proud of her for going public."

The 51-year-old star (pictured above left) also described the 'What The Hell' rocker as a 'warrior' in a Twitter post this week: "Love my friend and fellow Lyme warrior @AvrilLavigne for sharing her story. #chroniclymedisease #WeMustFindACure #AffordableForAll."

Lavigne, meanwhile, gave an interview to People magazine about her diagnosis and admitted that she thought she was dying at one point: "I could barely eat, and when we went to the pool, I had to leave and go lie in bed. My friends asked, 'What's wrong?' I didn't know. I had no idea a bug bite could do this. I was bedridden for five months. I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move. I thought I was dying."

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