Yolanda Hadid Remembers Her Late Friend as a "Beautiful Spirit"

Yolanda Hadid stepped out over the weekend to pay tribute to her friend, Ellie O'Connell, who passed away after a battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) over the summer. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills pal headed to the beach in Santa Barbara to remember her friend just months after her passing.

"So long my sweet angel @ellieod your [courageous] ALS journey kept things in perspective for all of us," she shared. "I know your beautiful spirit was there with us today as the dolphins appeared right behind us at the shore line. I will forever miss you."

Yolanda discussed how inspirational Ellie was to her in her RHOBH blog on Bravotv.com, especially during her battle with Lyme disease. "I have slowly watched her lose the use of every single muscle in her body, being left paralyzed, dependent on others, while her precious spirit and perfectly brilliant brain is trapped inside. She is my hero. She taught me that you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have left," Yolanda wrote. "I turn to her on the days I feel sorry for myself. I'm battling this crazy Lyme disease, but she puts it all in perspective real fast. She gives me strength and is the person that defines a true friend to me. I love the quote, 'Best friends are people who make your problems their problems just so you don't have to go through them alone!'"

The Daily Dish recently caught up with Yolanda who shared an update on her journey with Lyme disease. "I'm actually feeling really good. I'm probably at 85, 90 percent," she said last week. "I just started a new clinical trial and I'm really excited because I'm on day 12 and I'm feeling strangely good. So hopefully after 60 days this might be the end for me. I mean that'd be perfect but I don't know. We don't know."

Below, Yolanda's daughter, Bella Hadid, also shared her own struggles with Lyme disease.

Yolanda and Bella Hadid Open Up About Lyme Disease Journey