The world has lost one of its most remarkable blood donors, James Harrison, known for his life-saving plasma donations that benefitted more than 2 million infants. His passing occurred peacefully in a nursing home in New South Wales on February 17, according to his family.
James Harrison: The Blood Donor Who Saved Millions Passes Away
James Harrison: The Blood Donor Who Saved Millions Passes Away
James Harrison, an extraordinary Australian blood donor whose plasma saved over 2.4 million babies, has died at 88.
Harrison, famously dubbed "the man with the golden arm," possessed a distinctive antibody known as Anti-D, which is essential in creating treatment for expectant mothers at risk of their immune systems attacking their unborn children. His journey as a blood donor began when he was only 14 years old, following major surgery that required transfusions, and he committed to donating plasma every two weeks for over six decades.
In 2005, he set a Guinness World Record for the highest plasma donation count, a record that remained untouched until 2022. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, shared that her father relished saving lives painlessly and at no cost. The legacy of Harrison's contributions extends beyond his own family, as both she and two of Harrison's grandchildren benefited from Anti-D immunization, a direct result of his altruism.
Anti-D injections are crucial for preventing Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), a dangerous condition that can arise when a mother's blood and that of her baby are incompatible. Harrison’s contributions have been life-altering, especially before the inventor of Anti-D during the mid-1960s when the mortality rate for affected infants was alarmingly high.
While the exact reason for Harrison's rarified blood is still under investigation, it may be linked to the extensive transfusions he received in his teenage years. In Australia, less than 200 donors provide Anti-D plasma. Nonetheless, these donations make a significant difference, supporting around 45,000 mothers and their babies annually.
Organizations like Lifeblood are now innovating by collaborating with research institutions to replicate Anti-D antibodies in laboratories, so they can expand access to treatment for mothers worldwide. David Irving, Lifeblood's research director, emphasized the need for committed donors and the potential impact of lab-grown alternatives on maternal and infant health globally.
In 2005, he set a Guinness World Record for the highest plasma donation count, a record that remained untouched until 2022. His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, shared that her father relished saving lives painlessly and at no cost. The legacy of Harrison's contributions extends beyond his own family, as both she and two of Harrison's grandchildren benefited from Anti-D immunization, a direct result of his altruism.
Anti-D injections are crucial for preventing Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), a dangerous condition that can arise when a mother's blood and that of her baby are incompatible. Harrison’s contributions have been life-altering, especially before the inventor of Anti-D during the mid-1960s when the mortality rate for affected infants was alarmingly high.
While the exact reason for Harrison's rarified blood is still under investigation, it may be linked to the extensive transfusions he received in his teenage years. In Australia, less than 200 donors provide Anti-D plasma. Nonetheless, these donations make a significant difference, supporting around 45,000 mothers and their babies annually.
Organizations like Lifeblood are now innovating by collaborating with research institutions to replicate Anti-D antibodies in laboratories, so they can expand access to treatment for mothers worldwide. David Irving, Lifeblood's research director, emphasized the need for committed donors and the potential impact of lab-grown alternatives on maternal and infant health globally.
