A man hailing from Australia, acknowledged for his commendable act of saving over 2 million infants by consistently donating blood and plasma over the span of several decades, has passed away at the age of 88. James Harrison, possessing a rare antibody in his blood, peacefully departed in his sleep on February 17 while residing in a nursing home in the Australian state of New South Wales, as reported by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood. The unique antibody existing in Harrison’s blood was utilized in the creation of the drug anti-D, administered to expectant mothers at risk of their blood attacking their unborn babies, thereby preventing the development of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), a potentially fatal blood disorder.
Despite harboring an aversion towards needles, Harrison initiated his blood donations in 1954 at the age of 18, upholding a promise made at the tender age of 14 following life-saving blood transfusions during a major surgical procedure. A decade later, it was discovered that his blood contained a pivotal antibody crucial for the production of anti-D injections. Earning the moniker of the “man with the golden arm,” Harrison underwent 1,173 blood and plasma donations, exhibiting unwavering dedication by never missing a single appointment for over six decades until his retirement in 2018 at the age of 81. Reflecting on his altruistic endeavors, Harrison expressed, “I hope it’s a record that somebody breaks, because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause.”
The impact of Harrison’s contributions resonates profoundly, with over 3 million doses of anti-D derived from his blood administered to 2 million mothers across Australia since 1967. In recognition of his steadfast support for Lifeblood and the anti-D program, Harrison was bestowed with the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, a beneficiary of the anti-D injections, described Harrison as a compassionate humanitarian at his core, emphasizing that their family might not have come into existence without his invaluable donations. Mellowship further conveyed her father’s pride in having safeguarded numerous lives through his benevolent actions, which brought him immense joy upon learning about families, including their own, thriving due to his kindness. She shared his poignant words, “He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own.”
Australia currently boasts approximately 200 anti-D donors annually supporting around 45,000 mothers and their infants, as reported by Lifeblood. Although prevention of HDFN solely relies on blood donations presently, researchers are exploring the possibility of cultivating a synthetic version of the anti-D antibody using blood samples from Harrison and other donors. This innovation aims to curb the incidence of the disease among pregnant women in Australia and globally.
Chief Executive Officer of Lifeblood, Stephen Cornelissen, lauded Harrison’s ind
