James Harrison, famous for his life-saving blood donations, has passed away peacefully at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 88. Known as the "man with the golden arm," he generously donated his blood plasma containing a rare antibody, Anti-D, which is vital for protecting the lives of unborn babies.
Harrison's remarkable journey began at age 14 when he received blood transfusions after a surgery. Inspired by his own experience, he started donating plasma at 18 and continued this heroic act every two weeks until he was 81, saving over 2.4 million infants during his lifetime.
His remarkable contributions led to him holding the record for the most blood plasma donated until 2022. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, shared that her father took great pride in knowing the lives he saved and how many families like hers existed because of his generosity.
Today, anti-D immunizations help protect babies from a serious blood disorder during pregnancy, significantly reducing infant mortality. While there are only around 200 anti-D donors in Australia, their donations assist around 45,000 mothers each year. Efforts are underway to create lab-made anti-D antibodies to ensure future availability for pregnant women worldwide, inspired by Harrison's lasting legacy.
