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.
Get well soon, Lance Corporal!!!
Prayers for your full recovery Chris, and a long, happy life.
Thank you for your service and God speed.
A prayer for Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleuLord, hold Chris in your loving hands.Protect him as he has protected us. Bless him and his family for the selfless acts he has performed for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen †
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Prayers lifted for Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu.
Praying for your complete recovery Chris. You and Melany have lots yet to do. Get well soon! And thank you for your service.
Evening to you Mayor.
Can you lend your pray ping list?
Doug is going to deliver messages personally to this Marine.
Thanks.
Hold on Chris
Im hoping the surgery went well.
Ya know its all that buodian thats causing the troubles dont you? ;^)
Rest well Sir and get better
I am reading this story as I am lisening to the radio and the host is talking about the "miracle".
You must be very proud today, did you get to see the election in Iraq? Those people were dancing in the streets they were so happy, most have never known anything but Saddam's Tyranny.
Wow, you get a new lease on life, and Iraq gets to experience the first step in their own democracy.
God Bless you and your family, and thank you again for helping to bring Iraq to this day.
Ping!
Prayers up for an American Warrior.
Prayers going up to give thanks for the blessing of good medical care and a loving family, and to ask for a full recovery.
* I lived in Highland for 23 years. Retired USAF at Norton AFB in 1972.
Will bookmark your post.
Cpl. LeBleu & family: take care.
I am keeping you in my prayers.
Thank you and God Bless You for your service to our country.
Semper Fi, Marine
Dorsey (a Navy Corspman's Wife)
Prayers out
Prayers are with Chris and his family.
Leave message for ill Marine -- I'll deliver thread to Loma Linda University Hospital Doug from Upland | 1-30-05 | dfu
PING!!!
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