James Harrison, one of the world’s most revered blood donors, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 17 at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 88. Dubbed the "man with the golden arm" for his extraordinary blood plasma donations, Harrison's contributions have saved the lives of over 2.4 million babies. His blood contained a rare antibody known as Anti-D, a crucial component in medication administered to pregnant mothers whose blood could potentially harm their unborn children.
Harrison's remarkable journey as a blood donor began at the young age of 14 when he received life-saving transfusions during a major chest surgery. This experience inspired him to pledge his life to helping others. He started donating blood plasma regularly at the age of 18, committing to biweekly donations until he was 81. His illustrious donation record made him a beloved figure in Australia, where the Australian Red Cross Blood Service honored his legacy, acknowledging he held the world record for most plasma donated until 2022.
His daughter, Tracey Mellowship, shared that her father took immense pride in his ability to save lives without causing any pain or inconvenience to others. His family, including his grandchildren, are among those who benefited from Anti-D immunizations that prevented health complications linked to Haemolytic Disease of the Foetus and Newborn (HDFN). This condition can arise if a pregnant mother has incompatible blood with her unborn child, leading to severe health risks.
Before the development of Anti-D treatments in the mid-1960s, HDFN was a fatal condition for half of the affected babies. The source of Harrison's rare blood remains uncertain, but it is speculated to be a result of the extensive transfusions he received as a teenager. Currently, there are fewer than 200 active Anti-D donors in Australia, who collectively impact around 45,000 mothers and babies each year.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service is collaborating with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to synthesize Anti-D antibodies in laboratories, emulating the blood and immune cells from Harrison and other donors. Researchers aim to create a new therapy that could provide aid to pregnant women around the globe facing similar challenges in the future. Lifeblood's research director, David Irving, expressed optimism about this pursuit, identifying the vital need for dedicated donors capable of producing high-quality anti-D antibodies.
