Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Leave message for ill Marine -- I'll deliver thread to Loma Linda University Hospital (Update #553)
Doug from Upland ^ | 1-30-05 | dfu

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.

Skip to comments.

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.




TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: California; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: hero; lebleu; marine; marines; transplant; usmc; wia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 621-634 next last
To: Miss Behave

Amen.


301 posted on 02/03/2005 8:58:51 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 299 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland
Thank You for making me proud to be an American.

My family and I pray, and will continue to pray, for you and your comrades.

Thank You for making it easy for me to identify who real hero's are to my children...
302 posted on 02/03/2005 8:58:54 AM PST by PigRigger (Send donations to http://www.AdoptAPlatoon.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

You're our boy, Blue! Semper Fi..get well soon


303 posted on 02/03/2005 9:01:22 AM PST by gopwinsin04
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

God Bless You! May you recover and live a long and happy life. Thank you for your brave service to our country. Your honor and sacrifice will not be forgotten.


304 posted on 02/03/2005 9:02:41 AM PST by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Never play leapfrog with a unicorn!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PigRigger

I love your post and second that emotion, PigRigger.


305 posted on 02/03/2005 9:03:34 AM PST by Miss Behave (Beloved daughter of Miss Creant, super sister of danged Miss Ology, and proud mother of Miss Hap.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 302 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

May G-d bless and quickly heal our brave warrior, Chris LeBleu. I personally thank you for your sacrifice and hope you are well soon.


306 posted on 02/03/2005 9:12:57 AM PST by JewishRighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
UPDATE:

I sent this thread to reporter Janet Harp from the San Bernardino Sun. Here is the response I just received --

This is amazing! Thank you very much. I'm doing a story that will run Saturday previewing a Sunday benefit at The Club in San Bernardino, 194 W Club Center Dr. at 2 p.m. You might want to post that. A Marine father is putting together The Road to Recovery Benefit and Super Bowl party in honor of Chris, with any donations to go to the LLUMC and its Transplant Institute. I will definitely mention your Web site and the responses in my story.

Thanks again!

307 posted on 02/03/2005 10:12:40 AM PST by doug from upland (THE RED STATES - celebrate a great American tradition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Ping to post 307.


308 posted on 02/03/2005 10:13:40 AM PST by doug from upland (THE RED STATES - celebrate a great American tradition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

Doug, thank you for all that you're doing for this fine Marine and his wife. You are incredible.


309 posted on 02/03/2005 10:16:13 AM PST by Miss Behave (Beloved daughter of Miss Creant, super sister of danged Miss Ology, and proud mother of Miss Hap.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

Bump.


310 posted on 02/03/2005 10:28:25 AM PST by Miss Behave (Beloved daughter of Miss Creant, super sister of danged Miss Ology, and proud mother of Miss Hap.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland; Defender2; Blue Scourge; armyman; Arrowhead1952; darkwing104; txradioguy; ...

UPDATE:

I sent this thread to reporter Janet Harp from the San Bernardino Sun. Here is the response I just received --

This is amazing! Thank you very much. I'm doing a story that will run Saturday previewing a Sunday benefit at The Club in San Bernardino, 194 W Club Center Dr. at 2 p.m. You might want to post that. A Marine father is putting together The Road to Recovery Benefit and Super Bowl party in honor of Chris, with any donations to go to the LLUMC and its Transplant Institute. I will definitely mention your Web site and the responses in my story.

Thanks again!

doug from upland

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1332306/posts?page=307#307


311 posted on 02/03/2005 10:56:03 AM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Have you said Thank You to a service man or woman today?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

Comment #312 Removed by Moderator

To: doug from upland
You guys are amazing. Thank you for everything!
313 posted on 02/03/2005 11:00:59 AM PST by .cnI redruM (The Khmer Rouge never captured anybody's doll. - Jonah Goldberg)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Miss Behave
(post 307)The Benefit at THE CLUB on SuperBowl Sunday only costs $10. They have free hot dogs and chips. Free pool. I think there will be a lot of great patriotic Americans there that day.

Phone: 909.824.2406


314 posted on 02/03/2005 11:02:51 AM PST by doug from upland (THE RED STATES - celebrate a great American tradition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 309 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Unfortunately I am currently unable to think of anything profound to tell this young Marine, except stay strong and keep the faith.


315 posted on 02/03/2005 11:02:53 AM PST by Nitro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 311 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Unfortunately I am currently unable to think of anything profound to tell this young Marine, except stay strong and keep the faith.


316 posted on 02/03/2005 11:02:54 AM PST by Nitro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 311 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland
You haven't been released yet, Lance Cpl! Too many people here depending on you.

Get well ASAP!!!

Jay (U.S. Army 91-00)

317 posted on 02/03/2005 11:05:52 AM PST by Joe 6-pack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

You make us all proud.


318 posted on 02/03/2005 11:19:46 AM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

Outstanding!


319 posted on 02/03/2005 11:20:51 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 307 | View Replies]

To: doug from upland

Thanks for this thread Doug and the honor to write to Chris.

Chris, You have been put in the heart of a powerful prayer network as well as supportors of the US Military

... Gods richest blessings to you & your wife as you heal - You are so young to be in this situation... and so young to have to Go to war for us.

I thank you for that & will keep you on my prayer list & forward it around to the prayer warriorss I know.

Dolly Howard... Ohio FReeper


320 posted on 02/03/2005 11:22:14 AM PST by DollyCali (The little fuzzy guy saw his shadow ... and I took his picture!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340 ... 621-634 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson