The 88-year-old James Harrison is no more; he was an Australian blood donor who saved over 2.4 million babies in his lifetime. Also referred to as the “man with the golden arm,” Harrison died in New South Wales on February 17, so reported the BBC.
James Harrison probably started donating blood when he was only 18 years old back in 1954, and he would continue for 64 years to make 1,173 donations before retiring. It started at 81 years of age in 2018. He became a lifesaver to more than two million babies across the globe while his rare antibodies, Anti-D, were the effective weapon of their salvation.
BBC report reveals that Anti-D was a unique antibody found in Harrison’s plasma, which prevented harmful exchange from mothers to the baby during childbirth.
At age 14, Harrison received transfusions after a major chest operation; hence he promised to become a donor for the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. He established a world record in 2005 for the most blood plasma donated; he held this title all the way to 2022 when he was bested by a bloke from the US.
According to Tracey Mellowship, Harrison’s daughter, he has saved so many lives, and that made him very proud. “He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own,” she told the BBC.
According to the BBC, research is ongoing at Australia’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research together with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Lifeblood) to develop the clone of Harrison’s antibodies in the laboratory with the hopes of replicating a synthetic version of anti-D for a more reliable and good source of treatment for pregnant women around the world.
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