Ryan Troop, his brother Aaron and their mum and dad from Dorking in Surrey recently visited the Blood Sciences department of Pathology (Blood transfusion, Haematology and Biochemistry, and Central Reception sections) at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, for a tour of the department.
Ryan who is under the care of the paediatric team at East Surrey Hospital was invited to the Blood Sciences department as part of the Harvey’s Gang initiative*, to find out more about what happens to blood samples once they arrive at the Blood Sciences laboratory.
Harvey’s Gang was named in memory of 10 year old Harvey Buster Baldwin, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2013 at Worthing hospital. Harvey sadly passed away after a 19 month battle. His parents mentioned how special and memorable the visit to Pathology as a trainee scientist had been for Harvey and Harvey’s Gang was formed in his memory.
During their visit, Ryan and Aaron received a laboratory coat a Harvey’s Gang certificate, educational information about blood and blood tests and a well-stocked goody bag.
Ryan’s dad, Andrew said: “We all really enjoyed our visit to the Haematology Department at East Surrey. The whole team made us feel very welcome and it was so fascinating to see how Ryan’s bloods are tested and understand the amazing work undertaken, especially testing over three thousand samples a day. We are very grateful to East Surrey Hospital and all the wonderful team on Outwood Ward for helping to care for Ryan during his treatment.”
Rashmi Rook, lead biomedical scientist said: “Staff from all over the hospital got involved to make Ryan and Aaron’s day extra special. We made chromatography pictures (a test that separates different liquids on paper) and played some fun games to demonstrate some of our tests. Ryan and Aaron looked at different packs of blood and frozen plasma and were shown how to do a blood group. Other members of the Blood Sciences team showed the brothers how to load the haematology analysers and taught them to pipette using coloured water and demonstrated the biochemistry sample robot. Our estates and purchasing teams also organised hospital branded identity name badges.”
*The Harvey’s Gang paediatric patient tours of Pathology was named in memory of 10yrs old Harvey Buster Baldwin, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2013 at Worthing hospital, and required many transfusions of special (irradiated, CMV-) red cells and platelets. After having chemotherapy, Harvey, (blood group AB Negative) eventually received a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), from his brother Max (blood group A Negative) and Harvey’s blood group converted to group A Negative. Regretfully, Harvey eventually rejected the BMT and succumbed to Host versus Graft Disease, after a 19 month battle. At his farewell, his parents mentioned how special and memorable the visit to Pathology as a “Trainee Scientist” had been for Harvey.
Harvey’s Gang webpage: http://harveysgang.com/harveys-story/
