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.
Dear Lord, please help this young marine, Chris LeBleu to recover from his illness. Prayers and strength also for his wife Melany and the rest of his family . . . God be with you all.
Hi Chris!
Thank you for your service.
Wishing you a full & speedy recovery along with a long & happy life.
PING
This is good news for sure! **PING** There is another thread on Free Republic with some wonderful comments. Perhaps you might take a look and see if you can also print this one, this fine Marine deserves all of our good wishes and prayers.
May his family find peace as they muddle through this ordeal.
Home From The War In Iraq, Marine Faces The Fight Of His Life (heart wrenching)
Soldier lives on friend's healthful gift (even MEN might shed a tear and prayer after reading this)
amen bump!
Prayers going up and cyber hugs going out...
Thanks, King!
God bless you, Chris and Melany. Our country is free today ... and more of the world is free each day that passes ... because of people like you. The American military and their families are the greatest people in the world.
May the LORD grant you complete healing and many children!
It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who,if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
Thankyou Marine.
Melany may God grant you comfort and strength in your time of need.
May God bless the both of you abundantly.
Melany, God Bless you and Chris...may He watch over you for many years to come, as you grow together.
Know that our hearts and prayers are with you and your family. Your sacrifice is appreciated more than you'll ever know.
~Eric
Bump
Chris, stay strong and get well..prayers for you and your family.....1sg Mike and Nancy
We will never forget.
Wishing you, and praying for, a complete and speedy recovery and a long, healthy and happy life.
Thanks for your service and courage.
All the best to you and Melany.
May God guide the physicians and nurses who attend you, may God's healing hands surround you..I thank you for your service, Chris. Prayers for healing will continue.
Heavenly Father, we praise your Name and give thanks to You for all we have and all we are. We thank You also for hearing our prayers on behalf of this young man, Chris.
You alone know all the needs here. In Jesus Name, we pray for Your Healing Hands to be upon Chris and restore him to perfect health and a long life with his wife, Melany.
Guide her, comfort her and keep her strong, dear Lord.
In Jesus' Name we pray thy will be done. Amen
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