Poly student dies before exam

Thu, Feb 19, 2009
The New Paper

By Lediati Tan

HE was preparing for his exams in school when he suddenly threw up his lunch followed by a lot of blood.

Subsequently, he lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital.

That was on 10 Feb.

Five days after being admitted to the hospital, polytechnic student Jordan Tan Jun Jie, 19, died.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, the second-year Molecular Biotechnology student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic was preparing for his exams at the basement of his school's convention centre when he suddenly vomited.

He lost consciousness before paramedics arrived, and was taken to the National University Hospital (NUH) where doctors discovered a blood clot in his brain.

An immediate operation was needed, but doctors were unable to operate on him as he had a low blood platelet count - a condition known as thrombocytopenia.

Platelets are cells in the blood which aid in blood clotting.

He fell into a coma after a minor operation was performed to ease the mounting blood pressure in his brain.

Jun Jie was certified brain dead on 12 Feb, and died at 5.25am on 15 Feb.

At the teen's wake yesterday, his parents declined to be interviewed.

They would only say that Jun Jie was healthy and active, and they were not aware that he suffered from thrombocytopenia.

Help flowed in

Jun Jie's collapse touched many who knew him.

Since 10 Feb, it has triggered a flurry of online postings by his friends and schoolmates, offering words of encouragement while he was in a coma.

An appeal for B+ and O+ blood platelets was posted by Lee Xian Jie on np Tribune's website - the polytechnic's newspaper - asking people to donate at the blood donation centre at NUH.

People responded to the appeal but it is unclear how many came forward. According to the post, Jun Jie was hospitalised for a viral infection.

Blogger Xinying wrote on 13 Feb: 'There will no longer be a brother who... teaches (me) how to play badminton better... who can help me academically...'

Blogger Izhar who identified himself as Jun Jie's good friend wrote on 12 Feb: 'Today, I went to visit (Jordan) at NUH. He was in (a) coma.

'It was very touching to see his mother talk to him, trying to wake him up from his deep sleep.'

A Facebook group named 'In Memory of Jordan Tan Jun Jie' with more than 570 members was also created to pay tribute to the teen, and the number continues to grow.

Jun Jie will be cremated today.

This article was first published in The New Paper.