Australian whose blood saved 2.4 million babies dies

James Harrison, a remarkable individual from Australia, has sadly passed away at the age of 88. He was known for his extraordinary contributions as a blood donor, having saved the lives of more than 2 million babies through his unique blood. Harrison died peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in New South Wales on February 17, as confirmed by his family. He earned the nickname 'the man with the golden arm' because his blood contained a rare antibody known as Anti-D. This antibody is crucial for creating medication that helps pregnant mothers whose blood might attack their unborn babies. Harrison's journey as a blood donor began when he received blood transfusions during a major chest surgery at the age of 14. Inspired by this experience, he pledged to become a donor himself. He started donating his blood plasma at the age of 18 and continued this generous act every two weeks until he was 81 years old. In 2005, he set a world record for the most blood plasma donated, a title he held until 2022 when a man in the United States surpassed him. Harrison's daughter, Tracey Mellowship, expressed her father's pride in having saved so many lives without causing any pain or cost to anyone. She recalled his words, 'He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own. ' Tracey and two of Harrison's grandchildren also benefited from anti-D immunizations, which made them part of the many families that owe their existence to his kindness. Anti-D injections are vital as they protect unborn babies from a serious blood disorder called haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn, or HDFN. This condition arises during pregnancy when the mother's red blood cells are incompatible with those of the growing baby. The mother's immune system mistakenly identifies the baby's blood cells as a threat and produces antibodies to attack them. This can lead to severe complications for the baby, including serious anemia, heart failure, or even death. Before the development of anti-D interventions in the mid-1960s, one in two babies diagnosed with HDFN did not survive. The exact reason why Harrison's blood was so rich in anti-D remains unclear, but some reports suggest it may be linked to the significant blood transfusion he received at the age of 14. In Australia, there are fewer than 200 anti-D donors, yet they assist approximately 45,000 mothers and their babies each year, according to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood. Lifeblood is collaborating with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to cultivate anti-D antibodies in the laboratory by replicating blood and immune cells from Harrison and other donors. The researchers involved are hopeful that lab-created anti-D can eventually be used to support pregnant women around the globe. David Irving, the research director at Lifeblood, remarked that creating a new therapy has long been a 'holy grail' in the field. He emphasized the challenge of finding donors who are committed to regular donations and can produce antibodies of sufficient quality and quantity.