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NEED TO KNOW
Bijou Phillips is hospitalized and on dialysis as she awaits a second kidney transplant
The actress is suffering complications from her first transplant, which took place in 2017
She shared her search for a living donor with her Instagram followers
ActressBijou Phillipsis asking for help from her hospital bed.The actress, 45, posted a plea toInstagramon Feb. 11, saying she's searching for a living kidney donor: "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" — a reference to her daughterFianna, 11,whom she shares with ex-husband,That 70s Showstar,Danny Masterson.
"I was born with underdeveloped kidneys and spent the first three months of life in the NICU on dialysis," she wrote in her post.
"In 2017, I received the incredible gift of a kidney from a dear friend. Thattransplantgave me 8 precious years to be a mother to my daughter—but I have had many complications since, including the BK virus which led to both a cellular and antibody rejection."
The BK virus, according to theNational Kidney Foundation, is a latent virus present in most people that can be reactivated by anti-rejection medication given to organ recipients. Symptoms include seizures, muscle pain, fevers and trouble breathing.
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At the time of her first surgery, Phillips'rep told PEOPLEthat "Bijou was born with small kidneys and has been quietly dealing with kidney disease for the last five years, including being on the transplant list."
"In an effort to heal her body she has led a stress-free life with a vegan diet, which eventually wasn't enough and she's been privately having dialysis," her rep said at the time. "She recently found out one of her friends is a match and is optimistic that she will have a transplant soon."
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In her Feb. 11 post, Phillips wrote, "I am currently under care of Dr Anjay Rastogi at UCLA and back on dialysis. Please help me find a living donor so that I can have more time with my daughter, family, friends."
She urged people interested in kidney donation to apply through alink in her bio."I am so grateful for your support," she wrote.
She concluded her post by saying, "Time is of the essence."
PEOPLE has reached out to Phillips' rep and lawyer for more information.
Read the original article onPeople
