Actress Bijou Phillips faces a critical medical situation as her search for a kidney donor continues despite receiving more than 1,000 applications from potential candidates. The 45-year-old performer remains under medical care at UCLA Medical Center as of Thursday, February 12, where she is undergoing dialysis treatment while awaiting a suitable organ match.
Phillips, who received her first kidney transplant in 2017 from a close friend, has experienced significant complications that have rendered that organ non-functional. Medical sources indicate that she requires a donor with B negative, B positive, O negative, or O positive blood type to be compatible with her B negative blood classification.
Lifelong Health Battle
In a public statement released via social media on Wednesday, February 11, Phillips disclosed the severity of her condition and the congenital nature of her kidney disease. The actress revealed that she was born with underdeveloped kidneys, a condition that required her to spend the first three months of her life in a neonatal intensive care unit receiving dialysis treatment.
The 2017 transplant provided Phillips with eight years of improved health, allowing her to raise her now 11-year-old daughter, Fianna. However, she subsequently contracted the BK virus, a common complication in transplant recipients that can lead to organ rejection. In Phillips' case, the infection triggered both cellular and antibody-mediated rejection of the transplanted kidney.
"I am asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt, and, most importantly, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter. I am in need of a kidney," Phillips stated in her appeal to the public. She emphasized that time is a critical factor in her search for a donor.
Current Medical Status
Phillips is currently under the medical supervision of Dr. Anjay Rastogi at UCLA Medical Center. She began dialysis treatment on Tuesday, February 10, as her remaining kidney has experienced natural deterioration. According to sources familiar with her condition, while Phillips remains alert and cognizant of her situation, her medical status is considered dire.
Multiple family members and friends have undergone testing to determine compatibility as potential donors, but none have proven to be suitable matches. Medical professionals and Phillips' support network are hopeful that a compatible donor will be identified within the coming months, though no prospective candidates have been confirmed at this time.
Family Support During Crisis
Despite the challenging circumstances, Phillips has received substantial emotional support from her family. Her daughter Fianna has visited her in the hospital, along with her half-sisters Chynna Phillips and Mackenzie Phillips, who have maintained a bedside presence during this difficult period.
Phillips, who has been in a relationship with Jamie Mazur since June 2024, currently resides on a farm in Santa Ynez, California. The actress has largely stepped away from the entertainment industry in recent years, focusing instead on a quieter lifestyle removed from the public spotlight.
The overwhelming response of more than 1,000 potential donor applications demonstrates significant public concern for Phillips' welfare. However, the complexities of organ matching, which require compatibility across multiple immunological factors beyond blood type, have thus far prevented identification of a suitable candidate. Medical experts continue to evaluate applications as Phillips' medical team works to stabilize her condition through ongoing dialysis treatment.