Road to recovery party raises funds for Marine (Chris LeBleu)

San Bernardino Sun ^ | 2-6-05 | Nikki Cobb

[doug from upland]

Road to Recover party raises funds for Marine

Guests gather for man's health

By NIKKI COBB, Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - The pool tables were busy Super Bowl Sunday at The Club sports bar, the players all hoping for a second shot at life for an ailing Marine. Military comrades and civilians alike paid $10 to attend the Road To Recovery Super Bowl party at The Club. Half of the proceeds go to Loma Linda Transplant Institute and half to Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu.

Meanwhile at Loma Linda University Medical Center on Sunday, officials said the 22-year-old Marine remained in critical condition as he continued to recover from the liver transplant he received Jan. 30, two days after lapsing into a coma from total liver failure.

In September, LeBleu returned from Iraq to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, where he was stationed. LeBleu married in October and became ill in December when his liver mysteriously failed.

Pfc. Jeremiah Adams, 21, said he and LeBleu are "like brothers.'

Adams said LeBleu is a good friend, the kind who would do anything for another.

"If he knew we were doing this, he'd try to stop us,' Adams said of the benefit. "He wouldn't like people doing all this for him. He's stubborn.'

Cpl. Bruno Hoguet and Lance Cpl. Tim Hendzahs, both 22, were shooting pool Sunday.

The two said they're in LeBleu's platoon, and the benefit was a way to have fun and support their comrade. His illness has been hard on them, they said.

"It's even more shocking than if we'd lost someone shot in Iraq,' Hoguet said. "Over there, you know it's a possibility and you expect it. But this it's completely unexpected, and that makes it worse.'

Hendzahs said, "You want to do so much. You just feel that nothing is enough. So you do everything you can.'

Julie Humeston, director of the Loma Linda Transplant Institute, was on hand to recruit organ donors. She said the need for organs is critical and ongoing.

Humeston said events such as Sunday's help raise awareness, but 17 people waiting for an organ die every day. People don't think about organ donation until someone they know is affected, she said, and don't tell their families their wishes.

The response to LeBleu's illness has been overwhelming, she said.

"You could not have believed the support he had, from even the highest level of the military,' Humeston said. "There were people calling from all over the country.'

Oscar Runyon, promotions director for The Club, said when he heard of LeBleu's plight it reminded him of his own son, also in the Marines. He felt compelled to act.

"If we've got the money and time to take care of folks around the world, then by golly we can take care of our own,' Runyon said.

Lance Cpl. Sean Stott, 20, had come to Sunday's event to do exactly that.

"I didn't know LeBleu all that well,' Stott said. "But that doesn't matter. He's a fellow Marine, and we take care of our own.'

[BushisTheMan]

I think being in Iraq has been the reason for many liver failures among soldiers....something about the water there? Anyone know?

[doug from upland]

From another local story:

Messages for LeBleu began appearing at www.freerepublic.com on Jan. 30. Cajun Mike has been updating visitors to the Web site on LeBleu's health. He also wrote Saturday that the young Marine was released from the hospital's intensive care unit. ................

.....the Web site that, in a week, has seen more than 400 notes sending prayers, words of encouragement and pictures to LeBleu, his wife Melany and their family......

posted the information for the benefit and printed and delivered the messages to the hospital.

One message reads, "To a very special hero, Chris. May God bless you and keep his arms around you for a speedy recovery,' signed Nadine and Bill Clewett of Peoria, Ariz. Another from reader "Oorang' says, "May you both have a long and prosperous life together. The courage and sacrifice that both of you have shown is an inspiration to many. Thank you.'

[doug from upland]

Have there really been a number of liver failures?

[doug from upland]

Thanks to blurblogger.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Thanks to Doug from Upland for getting our FReeper encouragements to this Marine in the hospital--and for putting the word out on where to donate. Mailing info on this thread:


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336495/posts

BTTT!

[BushisTheMan]

Don't laugh but I saw it on a TV show (House?) that listed two problems that our soldiers are having after returning from Iraq. One a skin disease and one was liver failures.