{"id":787802,"date":"2026-07-08T21:30:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/787802\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T21:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T21:30:12","slug":"bijou-phillips-receives-life-saving-kidney-transplant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/787802\/","title":{"rendered":"Bijou Phillips Receives Life-Saving Kidney Transplant"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tFive months after making an urgent plea for a kidney donor<\/a>, Bijou Phillips<\/a> has received a transplant. The former actress and model was previously placed on dialysis and hospitalized at UCLA in Los Angeles for complications from a 2017 transplant. She thanked her family and the doctors at UCLA calling them her \u201cheroes\u201d throughout the life-saving procedure.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI am beyond beyond grateful to everyone who rushed into help me, get checked to donate, you are all hero\u2019s [sic]!\u201d she\u00a0wrote\u00a0on Instagram<\/a> Tuesday, July 7.<\/p>\n

\n\tPhillips\u2019 brother Aron Wilson donated his kidney to another patient in need, and in turn, a person close to the patient donated their kidney back to save Phillips\u2019 life. She described the donor as a \u201cperfect match,\u201d that was \u201cso close it\u2019s like I got the kidney from one of my parents!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tShe said she was blown away \u201cby Dr Veale and the magic he does!,\u201d later calling her doctor a \u201clifesaver.\u201d \u201cHe didn\u2019t cut the muscles so I didn\u2019t even really need much pain medication at all, just Tylenol! I feel at five days out like I did four months after my last surgery!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPhillips was born with underdeveloped kidneys, and she revealed this left her in the NICU on dialysis for the first three months of her life. \u201cIn 2017, I received the incredible gift of a kidney from a dear friend,\u201d she said<\/a> on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cThat transplant gave me 8 precious years to be a mother to my daughter \u2014 but I have had many complications since.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tPhillips contracted the BK virus, \u201cwhich led to both a cellular and antibody rejection,\u201d she described. According to the\u00a0National Kidney Foundation<\/a>, those who undergo organ transplants are at increased risk for the virus, also referred to as polyomavirus. \u201cYou can have BK virus in your system and not be aware of it,\u201d the foundation shared on its website. \u201cAfter your transplant, the virus may become active again. This is from the anti-rejection medicines. It can damage your new kidney and cause your body to reject it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n

\n\tShe posted about her urgent plea for a donor in February, asking followers to fill out a Google Form that asked for blood type, contact information, chronic health issues, and age. \u201cI\u2019m asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt, and most importantly, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

\n\tAfter 12 years of marriage, Phillips\u00a0filed for divorce<\/a>\u00a0from That \u201970s Show actor Danny Masterson in 2013 following him being sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of forcible rape. She holds full custody of her daughter, as Masterson is incarcerated.<\/p>\n