James Harrison, one of the most significant blood donors in history, renowned for saving the lives of over 2 million babies, has passed away. His family announced that he died peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, on February 17, at the age of 88.
A legacy of saving lives
Affectionately known in Australia as the man with the golden arm, Harrison possessed a rare antibody known as Anti-D in his blood. This antibody is critical in the formulation of a medication administered to expectant mothers whose blood may otherwise attack their unborn children. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service honored Harrison’s contributions, highlighting his commitment to donating blood after he required transfusions during a significant chest surgery at just 14 years old.
Harrison began donating plasma at 18 and maintained this altruistic practice every two weeks until he was 81. In 2005, he set a world record for the most blood plasma donated, a record he held until 2022 when a donor in the United States surpassed it.
A family legacy of gratitude
“He always said it does not hurt, and the life you save could be your own,”
expressed Harrison’s daughter, Tracey Mellowship, who noted her father’s pride in having saved countless lives at no cost. Mellowship, along with two of Harrison’s grandchildren, benefited from Anti-D immunizations, which protect unborn babies from a dangerous condition known as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).
HDFN arises when the mother’s red blood cells are incompatible with those of her growing baby, leading her immune system to mistakenly attack the baby’s blood cells. This can result in severe complications for the infant, including anemia, heart failure, and even death. Prior to the advent of Anti-D interventions in the mid-1960s, nearly half of the babies diagnosed with HDFN did not survive.
The origins of Harrison’s high levels of anti-D remain somewhat of a mystery, though some reports suggest that the large blood transfusion he received at age 14 may have contributed. Currently, Australia has fewer than 200 active anti-D donors, yet they collectively support approximately 45,000 mothers and their babies each year, as per the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood.
In collaboration with Australia’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Lifeblood is working on a groundbreaking initiative to cultivate anti-D antibodies in laboratory settings by replicating blood and immune cells from Harrison and other donors. Researchers are optimistic that lab-generated anti-D could eventually benefit pregnant women globally. Lifeblood’s research director, David Irving, remarked on the ongoing quest for new therapies, identifying the rarity of dedicated donors who can regularly donate high-quality antibodies as a significant challenge.