He was my patient too // ( #ADayInTheLifeOfABiomedicalScientist)

1. 2 pools of platelets and 1 or 2 units of irradiated red cells daily, one given in the morning and the other in the evening. A full blood count before each, one after dawn and the other just after dusk.

2. It was 11am.

"Hi, I'm calling from the ward to see whether the platelets for my patient are ready," She said.

I knew his hospital number from the top of my head, but asked her to confirm it anyway to ensure the correct patient got the correct products.

3. I knew a lot more too. I knew his age. It was the same as mine. He was born a few months after me. I knew his blood group. I knew his thresholds for transfusion for blood and platelets. So when his haemoglobin dropped or his platelets took a dive, I knew and was ready.

4. The nurses had told me that he was a chill guy, into rock music and a bit of a comedian. He had acute leukaemia and had been in the hospital for over a year. He went home but relapsed and was admitted again. I knew.

5. "The platelets are ready for when you need them," I told the nurse.

I knew they normally took the first pool before midday. They didn't that day. I got busy with other things but in the back of my mind those 2 pools swaying from side to side on the agitator nagged me.

6. I came back from my lunch break, but both platelets were still there, rocking back and forth.

Another nurse from the ward came to collect some red cells for another patient.

"What about the platelets for my patient?" I asked.

"He passed away earlier today." She replied.

7. I am not a doctor, nurse, physician associate or someone that had met him. I had never seen him, nor had the chance to speak to him. But I had known him for over a year. He was my patient too.

8. As a #BiomedicalScientist we rarely meet the patients, and don't often get updated about their well-being. But each of the thousands of samples we process every day, is a patient. One that we may never set eyes upon. Despite that, we care for the patients too.