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.
Praying that the good news just keeps coming.
God bless Chris, Melany and all of your loved ones.
Just awesome. I'm so glad to hear that he's doing better.
Indeed, it does!
I'd say hearing that Chris was asking for some food and for a walker has EVERYone here grinning ear-to-ear.
Chris and his family remain in my prayers. It's been a tough ordeal for all of them but the light is shining at the end of the tunnel now. :-)
Thanks so much for the ping, Tonk!
BTTT!!!!!!!
Bump!
Post #336 bump!
Thanks!
"He has a guardian angel pin that is hanging above his bed on a ribbon that he likes looking at, and I am most positive that he has a real guardian angel that is joyously smiling at this moment while keeping him safe."
Wonderful News! Prayers continue for Chris.
Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Praying Christ's hand is on Chris for a full recovery.
We FReepers on this forum are very thankful for the sacrifices of the members of the military to defend our freedoms and for their family members at home who support their loved ones in action.
We are thrilled to hear of the donation that made your recovery possible - thanks to DougfromUpland for spearheading this communication effort to get Chris' story told to us.
We continue to enjoy the freedoms and inalienable rights because of the efforts of you and all others in the military.
Know that we are pulling for you every step of the way.
May the wind beneath your wings lift you up!
- Helen, daughter of WWII US Army Vet (Medic Unit - Pacific theater)
daughter-in-law of WWII US Navy Captain (trained new recruits to get in shape before they went to US Navy flight school)
grand-daughter of two WWI US Army Vets (France/Belgian border)
For those of us long-distancers who can't make this benefit, could you post or FReepmail (upon requests like mine), where/how we can send donations for this Benefit for Chris?
Dang - I'll confess I'm not a big NFL follower, but that kind of SuperBowl party is one I'd enjoy! Thanks for the info!
I will get that info. Good idea.
Continuing to pray for Chris, Melany and their family.
May the Lord bless them and hold them in the palm of his hand.
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.
Please post your prayers to doug from upland;
Awesome! Wow!
God Bless and wonderful news.
Prayrs for a full recovery continue.
Praying for a quick recovery and strength for your wife during this time. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our country.
Okay, FReepers, you know what to do.
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