Posted on 01/30/2005 7:09:13 PM PST by doug from upland
FREEPERS -- the story of a young Marine is below. Loma Linda is a half hour away from me. Leave messages on this thread, I'll print it, and I'll deliver it to his wife at the hospital.
Marine, Iraq Veteran, Receives New Liver
Yahoo News ^ | 1/30/05 | BEN FOX, AP
Posted on 01/30/2005 6:35:36 PM PST by kattracks
LOMA LINDA, Calif. - With little time left before his organs would likely fail, a U.S. Marine received a new liver Sunday for a mysterious ailment doctors said would kill him if he didn't get a transplant. Doctors operated on Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu, who had been in a coma and on life support, for nearly 12 hours Sunday after an unidentified donor from New Mexico was found late Saturday night.Doctors said the procedure went well, said Sgt. Jennie Haskamp, spokeswoman at Twentynine Palms, where LeBleu was stationed. He was in critical condition late Sunday.
In the hospital lobby, his 21-year-old wife, Melany, found comfort in photos of her wedding last fall, shortly after LeBleu returned from Iraq (news - web sites). Despite her fears, she has remained optimistic since her husband's illness was discovered earlier this month.
Several of LeBleu's commanding officers, fellow Marines and other family members huddled with his wife Sunday as they awaited the outcome of the operation.
Burt Parham, who is related to LeBleu by marriage, said he expected bad news when he got the call that a liver had been found.
"It was kind of a worried ring, but we were glad of the news," said Parham, who lives in the family's hometown of Lake Charles, La. "It's a shame somebody has to die. But I mean, it's God's will, I guess. We sure have been praying for Chris."
The cause of the infection is unknown. Dr. Donald Hillebrand, a liver specialist, said LeBleu most likely caught a virus or was exposed to a toxin or chemical in Iraq or after his return.
LeBleu, 22, was a rifleman in Iraq for seven months as part of a 2,200-man task force that lost 21 people and had nearly 200 wounded in action. His battalion commander, Lt. Col. Matt Lopez, said he wasn't aware of any other members of the unit with similar ailments to LeBleu.
Fellow Marines call him "Blue," and say the Marine kept a cool head as his 160-man company guarded a base near the Syrian border.
"He's a real resilient guy, the most relaxed, confident person you'll ever meet," said Lance Cpl. Rob Whittenberg, 23, of Spring Branch, Texas.
The infection developed gradually.
In mid-December, just months after he returned from Iraq, LeBleu told his new wife he felt tired, a little under the weather.
Still, he was strong enough to drive them home to Louisiana for the holidays from his Marine Base in Southern California, going for 36 hours straight. On Jan. 2, he found the strength to go wild boar hunting with relatives.
"We kept telling him to go to a doctor, but he said it was just a sinus infection," Melany LeBleu said. "Of course, we didn't think it was anything major."
Days later, he felt much worse during the drive back to the Marine base at Twentynine Palms. In Texas, LeBleu felt so nauseous he had to pull over. They made it back to their home on the base, but he didn't get better.
On Jan. 10, she took him to a base emergency room, which sent him to Loma Linda University Medical Center, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles.
"He couldn't keep anything down, not even water," she said.
As recently as Thursday, he was jaundiced and swelling but could still answer questions, Hillebrand said.
Within 24 hours, however, he was no longer coherent and had to be put on life support.
Without a new liver, his other organs would have started to fail, his doctor said.
About 17,500 people are waiting for liver transplants in the United States, Hillebrand said. LeBleu's family and friends had sought a liver from someone with O-positive blood as a directed donation, outside the usual waiting process.
"It's hard to see your husband in that situation," Melany LeBleu said. "You can't even describe the feeling."
___
Associated Press Writers Doug Simpson and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans contributed to this report.
From linked article. (Prayers are being heard.)
"Though blood and marrow donations occur daily at the Blood Bank, Rotellini said this drive is unique because of his liver transplant and the development of aplastic anemia.
"This is a little more than typical. Usually you don't see this from transplant recipients and that makes it even more unique,' she said.
At 11 a.m., the Blood Bank had a steady flow of donors, Rotellini said.
"We're looking good,' she said. "We have a donor that just had a liver transplant and is the same type as (LeBleu).'"
love and many prayers,
Reborn from Free Republic
Thanks for the update. Prayers continue for Chris.
You are very welcome my dear friend.
No problem...it has been nice, sad, frustrating and inspiring to cover LeBleu and his family...just wish there was more we could do!
Saturday article (but our Web site only holds these for about a week):
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2733148,00.html
God Bless you, Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu, I pray for your recovery and thank you for your service to America. May you and your family always be in His grace. And God Bless the Doner for such a wonderfull act of fellowship and care, may you always be in His grace.
Understand about wishing there were more we could do. With you getting the word out and folks praying I guess we're doing about all we can. Now we just have to keep it up till things settle down and are ok. Do you plan on writing more articles any time soon? For now you are about my only line for information so I am being selfish to ask. *grin*
Do you think the SBSun would mind if I copied and pasted your article to this thread? That way we could keep it longer than a week.
You can paste it as long as it still says The Sun. I write articles as there are new developments, struggles, etc. My editor really has the say so or I would do a brief update daily. I might do something later in the week.
Thanks!
Article Published: Friday, February 25, 2005 - 8:46:41 PM PST San Bernardino Sun (The Sun)
Hundreds come to ill Marine's aid
By Janet M. Harp and Annette Wells, Staff Writer
More than 180 people signed into donor centers around the Inland Empire after an emergency blood and marrow drive was organized for Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher LeBleu, officials said Friday.
About 169 units, or pints, of blood were collected Thursday at the four centers of the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and 67 people signed up for the National Marrow Donor Program.
"That's wonderful. Usually about 75 to 100 donate blood each day so it was a fantastic turnout,' said Jean Cannon of the blood bank. "We have some wonderful people here in the Inland Empire when there is a need, they respond and want to help.'
LeBleu, a 22-year-old Iraq War veteran, suffered unexplained liver failure and received an emergency liver transplant Jan. 30.
The liver is functioning normally, but he subsequently was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder that affects fewer than 1,000 people a year in the United States. It requires a matching bone-marrow transplant. LeBleu will require a Type O transplant.
"It's a little disappointing,' said Mike Farris, a friend of LeBleu's, by telephone. "All of us friends and family were on cloud nine after the transplant, but we're keeping faith.
"This isn't, as far I can tell, immediately life threatening. But I didn't ask nor was I told if there was any certain timetable.'
There are 5.5 million people registered with the marrow donor program and none are matches. Thursday's results should be available within four weeks.
LeBleu remained in fair condition Friday at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
"He's staying steady he hasn't been getting worse,' said Joy Jameson, a hospital spokeswoman. "We're still waiting for that perfect match.'
Cannon, who works at the Ontario branch of the blood bank on Fourth Street, said many signed up for the national marrow registry after learning of LeBleu's situation on television or reading it in The Sun.
Even folks not from the United States donated.
"I was watching television this morning and his story really touched me,' said David Carwardine, 48, of Ontario, Canada
"Something just hit me, so I called Loma Linda (University Medical Center) and asked how I could donate and they told me to come here. I've never done this before.'
Carwardine, who delivers airplane equipment to Ontario International Airport, said what touched him about LeBleu was the fact that he was so young. His military status also played a part.
"Here is someone who gives everything he has, and I'm sitting around reaping the benefits of his sacrifice,' he said as a blood bank nurse tied a green band around his arm where the needle was inserted, his paperwork and registry card neatly lying in a stack on his lap.
"It's just a good feeling.'
Understand. I look forward to whatever you can do.
Hope you get well quickly...thank you for helping to keep us free and safe, God bless.
Thanks, Cajun Mike, for the encouraging report. As always, prayer and positive energy are coming from the FReepers.
Ping for update on 553.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1332306/posts?page=553#553
Good News update! PING!
Thank you for the update. Chris is still in my prayers.
God's best wholeness, health and healing to you, Chris.
May you walk intimately with God and with all those you Love, in His Love.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Terrific news!
Prayers for his continued healthy improvement!
Thank you so very much for the update. Continued prayers for everyone concerned and you included. I know it's going to be a long road to recovery for Chris and please let him and his family know we are with him all the way. I look forward to the day Chris, Melany and Susan all post here. ;-)
Happy Easter to you too Mike
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