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.
I've been seeing this thread for quite a while now, sending out a quick prayer every time I saw it. But I haven't ever bothered to open it up. I didn't know who this "ill Marine" might be.
A while back, the name "Chris" popped into my head during my prayer time. I didn't know who "Chris" is, or why he needed prayer. All I knew was, it wasn't me thinking up random names: I was supposed to be praying for "Chris." So I've been praying for "Chris" since then.
Well today I finally opened this thread, and I guess I know who Chris is now.
The moral of the story is this: God knows who Chris is, and He cares enough about Chris to be popping his name into peoples' prayers.
I am happy to hear this brave man is doing okay. He continues to be in my prayers.
Doug, this was just sent to me today - sorry I didn't find it sooner.
I cannot express the way I feel about our men and women fighting for us all around the world. I well up with tears, and get weak in the knees whenever the National Anthem is played, or I see anything patriotic happening. My son plays into this, as now I am a mother of a JROTC Cadet - but soon, I'll be the mother of a military Soldier.
I do not have words to express how my heart goes out to all soldiers and their families - but when you read a story like this, and it becomes personal - it takes on a different meaning.
All my love, best wishes and prayers go out to this family, and I sincerely say 'Thank You' for everything you have sacrificed for this country of ours. You will never be forgotten.
Dear wife, cling to Matthew chpt.21 v. 21. It is the parable of the fig tree. 'If you have Faith, and do not doubt, everything shall be possible unto you'. I repeat this daily, as my life continues to change - for better and worse.
God bless you all. Kimberly
Chris, May God bless you and your family with peace, healing, and joy.
Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu
God bless you and your family.
Your service is appreciated in a very big way.
Thank you for the Update! Praying for Chris and his Loved Ones!
Thinking of Chris bump.
Thanks for the Good News update ping.
March 16, 2005
San Bernardino County Sun
Ill Marine may not need bone marrow transplant
By Janet M. Harp
Staff Writer
LOMA LINDA - Bone marrow matching that of Marine Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu has been found, but doctors are uncertain whether the 22-year-old man still needs a transplant.
The Iraq War veteran who received an emergency liver transplant in January was diagnosed with aplastic anemia last month. The disease is a rare blood disorder that causes bone marrow to stop producing enough red blood cells.
It usually requires a matching bone marrow transplant.
"It's slow going when you get out of an invasive surgery -you're not just going to get up and go jog down the hall," said Eric Lamendola, LeBleu's stepfather. "Aplastic anemia is a pretty rare disease. It can be fatal. There are several different ways to treat it and a transplant is the last thing that they want to do. But don't rule it out completely."
Whether LeBleu will receive a bone marrow transplant isn't known, but doctors are expected to make the decision this week, the stepfather said.
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue in large bones that makes the body's blood. It's associated with certain infections, including hepatitis, as well as some toxins and viruses.
Last week, LeBleu's liver was functioning normally and his condition was listed as fair, hospital officials said. No update was available Tuesday, said Julie Smith, spokeswoman for Loma Linda University Medical Center.
"They're hoping that he won't need a transplant because his body is slowly coming back," said family friend Mike Farris. "Last week the (white blood cell count) was 0.7 and it's supposed to be in the 7 to 10 range. Every day it has doubled. It's just that the red blood cells and platelets are still way below what they should be."
Doctors said LeBleu's bone marrow went dormant because of the shock to his system from the liver problems before the transplant, Farris said.
Hundreds of people and more than 5,000 Marines rushed to blood donor centers after word spread of LeBleu's most recent diagnosis - a disease that affects fewer than 1,000 people a year in the United States.
His story appeared in newspapers and on television stations around the country after he suffered unexplained liver failure three months after returning from Iraq and two months after marrying his high school sweetheart, Melany.
Calls, letters and e-mails to Loma Linda University Medical Center and family poured in immediately and haven't stopped. Hundreds of prayers and notes continue to appear on an Internet message board.
Redlands resident Oscar Runyon organized a Super Bowl benefit party in honor of LeBleu. Today, he will present a check for $2,000 to the medical center's Transplant Institute and one for the same amount to LeBleu and his family.
"Chris is going to be overwhelmed when he hears about all the support," Farris said.
LeBleu was transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center on Jan. 26 from the base emergency room, facing the possibility of death if a donor wasn't found within days. On Jan. 30 - two days after lapsing into a coma - he received a successful transplant.
Lamendola said the family of the donor, a 63-year-old woman killed in a traffic accident outside Santa Fe, N.M., has contacted Melany LeBleu to send get-well wishes and prayers for her husband.
"He's moving in the right direction," Lamendola said. "There are lots of positive things happening, and we think he's in pretty good shape. We're fairly confident about how things will turn out."
May God keep you on this earth, until you have lived a full life and are old and gray. I pray you and your wife, Melanie, will live a long and happy life with a family of your own.
I cannot express the graditude I have for you in the protection of this great nation, and for my family's protection. You are a hero in my books.
May God heal you quickly.
Ron, (auggy), in Henderson, KY
Latest update...
Good news folks - Chris was released from his hospital room the day after Mother's Day! This news was sent to me my his juibilant mom and my dear friend, Susan.
There is still a posibility that he will eventually need the bone marrow transplant, but for now he's doing well enough to spend some quality time with his lovely wife Melany (and occasionally, his mom Susan).
Once again, thanks to all of you for your prayers and support - THEY WORKED!!!
Great news, Cajun Mike.
I wonder if you have any follow up on Chris LeBleu?
Hello,
I'm LCpl Chris LeBleu's Mom. First I want to thank you all for your prayers and support of our family and Chris as he underwent his liver transplant and bone marrow failure. Thanks to all who also became organ donors and blood donors because of him. Chris is alive and well and is now living in Houston Tx with his wife Melany. He continues to recover from the transplant and marrow failure. He has not needed a bone marrow transplant as of yet-his blood cells are returning to normal slowly. He is still active duty with the Marines and has not yet gone back to work. Although each day can be a challenge for him, he meets it head on and keeps a positive attitude. Folks-I don't know if you believe in Miracles or not, but I am here to tell you the Chris is a walking, talking Miracle! He has read most of this thread and could not believe how much of a fuss he caused!LOL All in all we are very thankful that he is still with us, and thankful that he has a beautiful, loving wife that has stood by him the entire time. God Bless you all, and thanks again.
Susan Lamendola
Proud Marine Mom of LCpl Christopher LeBleu
ping
Susan, that is wonderful news. Thanks for sharing it with us. I had called the hospital a month or so ago and they really weren't able to tell me anything.
Prayers continue.
Thank you for the update.
We still get calls nearly everyday from people wanting to know how he is. I have tried to get the AP to do an update, but not luck yet. All that really matters is that Chris is alive and well and lived to tell his story (what little he remembers!) hopefully to continue to inspire others to donate life.
Thnx,
Susan
I'll try to speak with the reporter who did the original story and see if she will do an update.
Doug,
It's wierd how I've been thinking of posting an update here lately - only to find out that my good friend and Chris' mom, Susan, already beat me to the punch.
So I can't really add much other than to say how happy we all are that Chris is doing well and that he and Melany are here in the Houston area.
I will add a little bit of more good news. There is a local group of building contractors - from the sounds of it very similar to the "Extreme Home Makeover" group - that has agreed to build Chris & Mel a brand new 3 bedroom home here in the Houston area. As soon as I find out more details I will fill you guys in.
I have a few good pictures of Chris & Melany that I'd like to post here, but I can't figure out how to do that. I can't seem to paste them into this message.
I, too, will try to contact the reporter who did the story to see if she's interested in doing a follow up story.
Take care everyone, and thanks again for all of your thoughts & prayers.
Cajun Mike
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