Health and Me

Aarushi Bhadury

Actress <span>Bijou Phillips</span>, 45, has turned to social media to seek a kidney, issuing an urgent request. In a recent social media post, the ‘Made for Each Other’ actress issued a heartfelt plea for a living kidney donor to help her navigate a the medical crisis. 

Phillips framed her request not just as an actress, but through the lens of her family roles. "I’m asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt and most important, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter," she said.

<h2>Why Does Bijou Phillips Need A <span rel="noindex">Kidney Transplant</span>? </h2>

In a post dated February 11, she explained that she was born with underdeveloped kidneys and spent 3 months in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). In 2017 she received her first kidney transplant which helped her for eight years. However, she faced many complications including the BK virus that led to cellular and antibody rejection. 

BK virus, according to the National Kidney Foundation, is a common inactive virus in the body that can ‘wake up’ after a transplant.

It can cause blurred vision, change in the color of urine, pain or discomfort while urinating, trouble breathing, fever, muscle pain, frequent urination, as well as seizures. 

<h2>What Causes Underdeveloped Kidneys? </h2>

Different conditions are known to cause either underdeveloped kidneys or the absence of one or both kidneys, Bilateral Renal Agenesis/Hypoplasia/Dysplasia. According to the PLOS One 2010 study, these 3 types of underdeveloped kidneys fall under the Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract or CAKUT. However there are a few differences. 

This occurs when both kidneys fail to develop entirely. The study links this to "gene-free" chromosomal breaks and mutations in the Esrrg gene, which normally directs essential early kidney formation. 

The kidneys are present but significantly small or "underdeveloped." The research suggests this happens when genetic signals for "ductal tissue" are interrupted, preventing the kidneys from reaching their full, functional size. 

This is an "abnormal" formation where kidney tissue is malformed. The study associates this with "laterality" errors, where the body's internal organization fails, causing kidneys to grow with structural defects. 

<h2>What Are Signs of Underdeveloped Kidneys? </h2>

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, kidney and urinary tract issues are usually spotted during a pregnancy ultrasound. When a problem is found, doctors watch the amniotic fluid levels closely, since that fluid is mostly made of the baby’s urine. If the issue isn't caught before birth, you might notice these signs in a baby or child: 

<ul><li>Frequent UTIs</li><li>A swollen stomach</li><li>Puffiness</li><li>Stomach troubles</li><li>Slow growth</li><li>Low energy</li></ul>

<h2>Bijou Phillips’ Message For Supporters </h2>

Currently back on dialysis, Phillips is under the care of Dr. Anjay Rastogi at UCLA. She is actively searching for a living donor and has directed interested individuals to a screening link in her Instagram bio. 

"Please help me find a living donor so that I can have more time with my daughter, family, friends," she wrote, expressing deep gratitude for the public's ongoing support.

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Actress Bijou Phillips, 45, has turned to social media to seek a kidney, issuing an urgent request. In a recent social media post, the ‘Made for Each Other’ actress issued a heartfelt plea for a living kidney donor to help her navigate a the medical crisis. Phillips framed her request not just as an actress, but through the lens of her family roles. "I’m asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt and most important, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter," she said.Why Does Bijou Phillips Need A Kidney Transplant? In a post dated February 11, she explained that she was born with underdeveloped kidneys and spent 3 months in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). In 2017 she received her first kidney transplant which helped her for eight years. However, she faced many complications including the BK virus that led to cellular and antibody rejection. BK virus, according to the National Kidney Foundation, is a common inactive virus in the body that can ‘wake up’ after a transplant.It can cause blurred vision, change in the color of urine, pain or discomfort while urinating, trouble breathing, fever, muscle pain, frequent urination, as well as seizures. What Causes Underdeveloped Kidneys? Different conditions are known to cause either underdeveloped kidneys or the absence of one or both kidneys, Bilateral Renal Agenesis/Hypoplasia/Dysplasia. According to the PLOS One 2010 study, these 3 types of underdeveloped kidneys fall under the Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract or CAKUT. However there are a few differences. Bilateral Renal Agenesis This occurs when both kidneys fail to develop entirely. The study links this to "gene-free" chromosomal breaks and mutations in the Esrrg gene, which normally directs essential early kidney formation. Renal Hypoplasia The kidneys are present but significantly small or "underdeveloped." The research suggests this happens when genetic signals for "ductal tissue" are interrupted, preventing the kidneys from reaching their full, functional size. Renal Dysplasia This is an "abnormal" formation where kidney tissue is malformed. The study associates this with "laterality" errors, where the body's internal organization fails, causing kidneys to grow with structural defects. What Are Signs of Underdeveloped Kidneys? According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, kidney and urinary tract issues are usually spotted during a pregnancy ultrasound. When a problem is found, doctors watch the amniotic fluid levels closely, since that fluid is mostly made of the baby’s urine. If the issue isn't caught before birth, you might notice these signs in a baby or child: Frequent UTIsA swollen stomachPuffinessStomach troublesSlow growthLow energyBijou Phillips’ Message For Supporters Currently back on dialysis, Phillips is under the care of Dr. Anjay Rastogi at UCLA. She is actively searching for a living donor and has directed interested individuals to a screening link in her Instagram bio. "Please help me find a living donor so that I can have more time with my daughter, family, friends," she wrote, expressing deep gratitude for the public's ongoing support.

bijou phillips hospitalized, needs an urgent kidney transplant, says ‘time is of essence’

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