LIVER DONER NEEDED: MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE
PALMS, Calif.(Jan. 28, 2005) -- A Marine veteran
recently returned in September from a successful
combat tour in Iraq only to begin a battle for his own
life in the United States.

Lance Cpl. Christopher R. LeBleu, a native of Lake
Charles, La., is currently in very critical condition
in Loma Linda University Hospital, Calif., for an
unexplained complete liver failure.

The Marine came back Sept. 9, 2004, from Iraq where he
conducted support and stabilization operations as a
rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The
month after his return to the United States, he
married his hometown sweetheart, Melany.

The 22-year-old is not expected to last past than the
next 48 hours. He may recover if a complete, not
partial, liver donor is found. A complete liver
donation has to come from a deceased donor.

A liver donor is desperately needed to save LeBleu.
Julie Smith, LLUH public affairs, said that the donor
must have a matching blood type. LeBleu is O positive.

If you believe you know of someone who could be a
donor, we urge you to contact the transplant donor
network immediately at 1-800-338-6112 or via the Web
site http://www.llu.edu/llumc.