Australian blood donor James Harrison, known for saving 24 lakh babies with his plasma, has died at the age of 88. He breathed his last at a nursing home in New South Wales on Feb. 17, his family confirmed to BBC. Harrison was famously known as the 'man with a golden arm' for his contribution to humanity. Harrison's daughter, Tracey Mellowship, said her father was "very proud to have saved so many lives."
Who Was James Harrison?
James Harrison became one of the world's most prolific blood donors because of the presence of a rare antibody, Anti-D, in his blood. Once discovered, it was used in medication given to pregnant mothers whose blood was at risk of attacking their unborn babies.
Harrison donated plasma, a liquid present in the blood, which is used in various kinds of treatment, including burns and cancer, according to the Australian Red Cross.
It was by chance that Harrison had pledged to become a blood donor at the age of 14. He was receiving transfusions while undergoing major chest surgery in his adolescence when he committed to donate blood.
After turning 18, he started donating his blood plasma and continued doing it every two weeks until the age of 81. Harrison received the recognition for most blood plasma donated in 2005. He held onto the title till 2022, when he was overtaken by a man in the United States.
James Harrison made his last donation on May 11, 2018, after donating more than 1,100 times, earning him the recognition of 'Man with the Golden Arm'.
"I hope it's a record that somebody breaks…," Harrison was quoted as saying by the Australian Red Cross on his last donation.
What Is Anti-D?
James Harrison had been donating blood for a decade before doctors discovered that his blood contained a crucial antibody needed to produce Anti-D injections.
The Anti-D immunoglobulin is an injection made up of plasma, which is very crucial for pregnant women who are Rh(D) negative. The injection helps to fight against developing potentially harmful antibodies during pregnancy.
Without the injection, Rh(D) positive babies could suffer from fatal Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN).
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