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.
Thank you Ernest.
I'm glad to hear that it was/is a good hospital.
My husband, children and I are so grateful for your service. It's because of heroes like you that we are free, and we have not forgotten. We will pray for you, Chris, and for your full recovery. May Christ hold you and heal you.
But they don't serve meat, have mustard or pepper in the cafeteria.
That's good to hear that Ernest.
That is encouraging.
No pepper?
Now THAT could be a problem.
Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu, thank you for your service. We will be praying for you.
Prayers for the complete recovery of Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu. Thanks to him, Melany and his family for his service to our country.
Also, God bless the soul of whichever organ donor gave you the gift of life, whose sacrifice made your miraculous transplant possible.
You are a credit to your nation and to all freedom-seeking individuals living throughout the world.
Hopefully, you'll recuperate enough to read some of these sincere, heartfelt messages from your friends-albeit, strangers in the most technical sense of the term-over at Free Republic.
I have a beloved older sister who has one of those unpleasant, as of yet, incurable, autoimmune diseases, so I can imagine what your lovely wife Melany must be thinking at this moment.
Let's pray that both of you will be able to gain strength through this trying experience.
Best of luck in future endeavors, Chris!
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
prayers always.......
Best wishes and prayers for this Marine. May he be comforted in knowing Loma Linda is a wonderful transplant center. Those lucky enough to get liver transplants generally do very well!
May God bless you with healing, cherished warrior.
Carolyn
BTT!!!!!
Lance Cpl. Chris LeBleu & Melany:
Our deepest gratitude for your service to America and keeping us safe. Please know that our prayers are with you both and that we pray for Chris's complete recovery. May the good Lord bless you and give you both peace and comfort.
God Bless You and Get Well Soon. Thank you so much for your service.
Louisiana
From: Your supporters here at Free Republic
We have been praying for you and are grateful that God, in His mercy has answered them by providing you with a new doner organ.
We want you to know that we are proud of you and America and Iraq owe you a debt of gratitude for aiding in the liberation and on-going freedom and democracy that has taken root in Iraq.
We salute you and pray for your speedy recovery in Jesus name, amen.
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