Esme Gets Insight Into Medical Laboratory Work

ANOTHER youngster from the region has been given a special behind-the-scenes tour of medical laboratories in Dumfries and Galloway.

Esme McLinden from Lockerbie was invited to take the tour as part of an initiative aimed at helping children understand where samples go, how they are processed and above all why it is important for blood samples to be taken in the first place.

Esme has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and has monthly infusions of infliximab.

The 13-year-old and her parents were curious to know where Esme’s blood samples went and how they are analysed, and were offered the chance to find out during their visit to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Paediatric nurse Sharron McGarva said: “I was able to join Esme and her parents on the tour.

“As Esme had her infusion the day before, we were able to make a film of her blood sample for her to look at down the microscope.

“Esme loved looking at her own blood and her parents were blown away by it, too.

“On the day, we played Eye Spy around the lab, did colour changing experiments and learned about plasma and blood products in blood transfusion.

“Esme was also our first child to receive Harvey the bear who is so cute and cuddly.”

The tour took place under the philosophy of the charity Harvey’s Gang.