Bijou Phillips, the 46-year-old actress and model, has triumphantly announced that she has received a kidney transplant, following a public search for a donor earlier this year. In a heartfelt message shared via Instagram, she expressed her gratitude to those who rallied around her during this challenging time.
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Phillips, who has faced kidney issues for most of her life, first underwent a transplant in 2017. Unfortunately, her health deteriorated due to complications from the procedure, including a rejection caused by the BK virus. This virus can affect organ transplant patients, often resulting in cellular and antibody rejection. The actress has remained open about her struggles, including a recent hospitalisation and reliance on dialysis, which prompted her earlier plea for assistance in finding a living donor.
In her latest Instagram post, Phillips wore a hospital gown and beamed with joy. She stated, “I am beyond beyond grateful to everyone who rushed to help me and get checked to donate, you are all hero[es]!” She explained how her brother participated in a kidney exchange programme that facilitated her receiving the perfect match. “My wonderful brother donated in the kidney exchange! He saved a life, and the life he saved had a special person donate for them, and then a few weeks later, the voucher programme found me a perfect match!”
In a touching revelation, Phillips noted that her new kidney donor felt “so close” that it was akin to receiving an organ from one of her parents. She praised her surgical team for their skill, highlighting that her recovery was far more rapid than after her previous transplant. “I feel at five days out like I did four months after my last surgery!” she shared, referring to her doctor as a “lifesaver.”
The actress’s announcement comes on the heels of her public appeal made in February. At that time, she had candidly discussed her ongoing health struggles and the profound need for a living kidney donor. In her heartfelt message, she mentioned the significance of her role as a mother to her daughter, Fianna, whom she shares with ex-husband Danny Masterson. “I need help finding a kidney. I’m asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt, and most important, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter,” she stated.
Bijou Phillips was born with underdeveloped kidneys and spent her early months in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on dialysis. Her first transplant provided her with eight years of improved health, but she faced numerous complications since, which included the persistent challenges posed by the BK virus. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the BK virus remains dormant in most individuals but can become active in organ transplant recipients as a result of anti-rejection medication.
Phillips described her history with transplants, recounting that her wait for a donor in the past stretched over five years before receiving the organ from her friend in 2017. Her story has resonated with many, highlighting the importance of organ donation and the deep bonds that can emerge from such life-saving acts.
Support for Phillips has poured in from friends and family, with Paris Hilton expressing her joy in the comments of Phillips’ Instagram post, writing, “So happy for you. Love you so much sis.” This heartfelt sentiment encapsulates the warmth and solidarity from her community as she embarks on this new chapter in her health journey.
As Bijou Phillips begins her recovery, her experience serves as a poignant reminder of the perseverance shown by those battling chronic health issues and the critical need for awareness surrounding organ donation.