Bijou Phillips Hospitalized, Seeks Kidney Donor After Starting Dialysis
Bijou Phillips is currently facing a critical health crisis and urgently needs a living kidney donor. The actress is hospitalized at UCLA and undergoing dialysis treatment. She previously received a kidney transplant in 2017, which improved her health for several years, but recent complications have necessitated another transplant.
Health Struggles and Urgent Call for Help
Phillips has been open about her lifelong struggle with kidney issues. Born with underdeveloped kidneys, she spent her early months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on dialysis. In her Instagram post, she expressed the urgency of her situation, stating, “Please help me find a living donor so that I can have more time with my daughter, family, and friends.”
After her kidney transplant in 2017, she enjoyed eight years of improved health. However, complications arose when she contracted the BK virus, which can cause severe complications for organ transplant patients. This virus can lead to both cellular and antibody rejection of the transplanted organ, exacerbating her already precarious situation.
Understanding the BK Virus
The National Kidney Foundation highlights the risks associated with the BK virus for transplant recipients. This virus may not show symptoms initially but can become active after a transplant. Anti-rejection medications, while essential, can sometimes trigger this reaction, making the new kidney vulnerable to damage.
How to Become a Donor
- Blood type
- Chronic health issues
- Age
- Name
- Contact information
Phillips emphasized that filling out the form takes just “15 seconds and can save a life.”
Personal Challenges
Beyond her health issues, Phillips is also a devoted mother to her 11-year-old daughter. She holds full custody, as her estranged husband, Danny Masterson, is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for rape. The couple was married for nearly 12 years before Phillips filed for divorce in 2013.
With time being critical in her search for a kidney donor, Bijou Phillips is relying on the kindness and generosity of others to secure a brighter future for herself and her daughter.
