A golden legacy: James Harrison's life-saving donations remembered
James Harrison, the man with the golden arm, died at the age of 88. His unique blood helped save the lives of more than two million children. His family announced his passing on February 15 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time in New South Wales, Australia.
Harrison had a rare Anti-D antibody in his blood plasma, which was used to produce medication administered to pregnant women at risk of Rh disease with their unborn children.
After receiving a blood transfusion at the age of 14 during significant chest surgery, he decided to become a donor. From 18, he donated plasma every two weeks until his 81st birthday.
According to the BBC, in 2005 he set the world record for the amount of plasma donated, which he held until 2022. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, told BBC News that her father was "proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain."
She and Harrison’s two grandchildren benefited from Anti-D immunization. "He took great joy in hearing about many families like ours, who exist thanks to his kindness," she added.
Anti-D injections protect unborn children from the deadly hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDFN), which occurs when the mother's blood is incompatible with the fetus's blood. Before the introduction of Anti-D therapy in the mid-1960s, one in two children with HDFN died.
200 donors save mothers and children
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood reports that 200 Anti-D donors in Australia help about 45,000 mothers and their children each year.
Lifeblood is presently collaborating with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to cultivate Anti-D antibodies in the laboratory, utilizing blood and immune cells from Harrison and various other donors.
David Irving, Lifeblood's Director of Research, emphasizes that creating a new therapy has long been the "holy grail." He points out the shortage of donors regularly giving blood capable of producing sufficient quality and quantity of antibodies.
