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James Harrison, the Australian known as “the man with the golden arm” because of his prolific baby-saving blood donations, has died aged 88.
In his lifetime, Harrison rolled up his sleeve more than 1,100 times to give his plasma which was then used in 2.4m doses of anti-D medication to save at-risk newborn babies.
Harrison’s blood was special because it contained what the Australian Red Cross described as a “rare and precious” antibody, essential to make anti-D injections.
Anti-D injections are a life-saving medication given to RhD-negative mothers whose blood is at risk of attacking their unborn babies. Without it, their babies can suffer haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN), which can be fatal.
Harrison first donated blood in 1954 and reportedly never missed a fortnightly appointment. His final donation was in 2018, aged 81. He was inspired after undergoing lung surgery as a 14-year-old, himself receiving many blood transfusions, the Red Cross said.
Since the introduction of the anti-D treatment in the 1960s, mothers and babies no longer face the adverse outcomes of HDFN.
The disease occurs when blood types of a mother and baby are incompatible and can result in miscarriage, stillbirth and other complications.
Dr David De Leacy, a retired Australian pathologist and transfusion specialist, said the disease was now “an historical problem” thanks to anti-D.
He likened the anti-D treatment to immunisation against any other virus, with babies protected if administered early enough.
The only catch is people like Harrison and his blood are rare. In 1999 Harrison was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
“He was … very proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain,” Harrison’s daughter, Tracey Mellowship, told the Red Cross in a statement.
“It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours, who existed because of his kindness.”
The CEO of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Stephen Cornelissen, described Harrison as a “remarkable, stoically kind” man who “extended his arm to help others and babies he would never know”.
In Australia, the Red Cross said recruiting new anti-D donors was as an ongoing challenge. It has fewer than 200 anti-D donors nationwide, who help about 45,000 mothers and their babies each year.
In addition to the 2m doses from his donations, labs still hold blood from Harrison.
Using blood from Harrison and other donors, Australian scientists are attempting to grow the anti-D antibody in a lab – a process the Red Cross has fondly dubbed “James in a jar”.
Harrison died in his sleep on 17 February, the Red Cross said.
