Lab team help Josh understand his treatment

A schoolboy with a chronic lung disease had a behind-the-scenes tour at a hospital laboratory to help him understand his treatment.

Josh Davies, eight, was diagnosed with a primary immune deficiency in 2019 and his big sister Eva donated some of her bone marrow for a life-saving transplant.

But although it was successful, a year later his lung disease was diagnosed and he now has to take 20 medications a day. He also needs daily chest physiotherapy and has regular admissions to hospital.

Josh, who lives in Sellindge, is cared for by the team on Padua ward at the William Harvey Hospital, where one of the play workers suggested the tour.

Mum Kayleigh said: “Josh’s conditions will be life long and so we strongly encourage him to understand them and ask questions.

“Josh and I found the tour really interesting and it helped us both make sense of his conditions and his treatment.

“I’ve read so much about his disease and how it presents, but being shown it first hand with the opportunity to ask questions was so helpful.”

The visit was arranged as part of the Harvey’s Lab Tours initiative, set up in memory of a young boy with leukaemia who wanted to know more about his treatment. Children officially become members of the team after a visit, receiving a goodie bag and certificate.

Biomedical scientists explained what they look for in blood tests, and Josh was also able to see the different machines used in the laboratory.

Kayleigh said: “Josh was amazed by the technology used and loved seeing that all the different technologies have their own names, like Hulk!

“Josh has regular blood tests to test his immunity and we now feel we understand what happens after the needle and how the information helps the doctors make the best decisions for him.

“His favourite thing about the lab tour was, of course, getting to squish the blood in the blood bags waiting for their recipient! Our lab guide Isla Downs was so lovely with Josh, and we would definitely recommend a tour to any of our hospital friends.”

Isla, blood transfusion practitioner and phlebotomy lead for the William Harvey Hospital, said: “We all loved having Josh and Kayleigh visit the lab and it was a real pleasure to show them around.

“Josh was a natural biomedical scientist and he asked some fantastic questions.

“The teams who work in the laboratory can feel a bit hidden from view, but play a vital role in more than 75 per cent of diagnoses so it was wonderful to be able to shine a light on our work.”