The Inspiring Story of the Blood Donor Who Saved 2.4 Million Babies

After a while the heart gets weary of stories that talk about strife and hatred in the world – stories about war, acts of terror, divisions within societies and fissures within communities. At such times it gladdens the heart to know about people who have made their lives about helping others; about making the world a better place. The story of 81-year-old James Harrison is one such story.

“Man with the golden arm”

James Harrison is an 81-year-old man from Australia who has a unique life saving quality in his blood. His blood plasma contains a rare antibody, which, for many decades helped to create life-saving medication for babies.

Anti-D medicine

Harrison has been donating blood to help create medicine which is given to pregnant women who have Rhesus negative blood; whose babies may be at risk if they have a positive blood type. He has helped save literally millions of babies with the help of the commercial Anti-D immune globulin commonly known as RhoGAM made using his blood.

Guinness world record holder

Usually, the frequency of blood donation is restricted to about once in three months. However, since Harrison was donating plasma, he could do so as frequently as once every two weeks. He therefore reached the thousand unit blood donation milestone in May 2011. He was also recognized in 2003 with the Guinness World Record for the most blood donated by one person. This is one record he hopes will be broken soon!

One of just 50 people in Australia

The antibody Harrison’s blood contains is extremely rare. It is thought that only about 50 people in Australia could have this rare blood quality. When Harrison was just 14 he underwent heart surgery and needed blood donations to save his life. After this he was also inspired to donate blood and became as sort of super blood donor who has achieved worldwide acclaim for his efforts. 

Final donation

Now at the age of 81, James Harrison made his final blood donation – his 1173rd donation which helped positively impact millions of lives. This was the last of these incredible life saving donations of blood - estimated to be every three weeks, over nearly six decades.

A remarkable legacy

"His kindness leaves a remarkable legacy, and he has put the challenge out to the Australian community to beat it," the Australian Red Cross was reported as saying. In 1999, Harrison was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. He was also nominated for Australian of the Year award. He was nominated in the New South Wales Local Hero division of the Australian of the Year awards.

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