An astonishing and uplifting story unfolded in the life of James Harrison. Learning about him will show you that the world is not lacking genuine heroes. Because of this man’s kindness and commitment to donating blood for many years, millions of children at risk of serious diseases were born healthy.
His contributions to his country are undeniable. Read on if you’re interested in learning about the surprising discovery that helped James Harrison save the lives of almost 2 million infants throughout the years.
Who Is James Harrison?
Australian blood plasma donor James Christopher Harrison, born on December 27, 1936, is widely recognized as the man with the golden arm. His plasma was used to develop a treatment for rhesus disease due to his blood’s unique composition.
He gave over a thousand times in his lifetime, and it is estimated that his efforts and dedication prevented the disease in over 2.4 million babies. Unfortunately, his 1,173rd donation was his last on May 11, 2018, as Australian law no longer allows blood donations from people above 81.
Why did Harrison decide to start donating blood?
James Harrison, a young Australian, woke up from a painful chest surgery in 1951. At that time, he was just 14 years old. The surgical procedure to remove his lung lasted many hours, resulting in his hospitalization for another three months.
He remained well after receiving 13 liters of blood from unknown donors. It required three months for him to recover from his hospitalization. After learning that blood transfusions had saved his life, he was naturally grateful to the unidentified donors. He promised to start donating blood immediately when he turned 18.
How Harrison’s reputation began
James Harrison was scared of needles. But the vow he’d made was more important than his fears. So when Harrison turned 18, he kept his promise and started donating his blood. He started giving blood regularly every three weeks, but he insisted that he could never glance at his arm while the needle was in it.
After a decade, Harrison’s charitable contributions were still ongoing. On the other hand, one day, a team of professionals unexpectedly contacted him. They informed him they had found an extremely rare immunoglobulin in his blood. Because of this, they requested consent from Harrison to sample his blood.
In recognition of the significance of the antibody found in James Harrison’s blood, one million dollars was allocated as his life insurance. No one can explain why his body is making immunoglobin. James Harrison credited this to his blood transfusions when he was fourteen.
Through donating his unique blood, a medication that can eliminate potentially fatal conditions in newborns was developed, saving the lives of over 2 million babies. For this reason, he became known as “the man with a golden arm.” But what makes this man’s blood so unique, and how can this medication from his blood prevent babies’ death?
Why his blood gave hope to babies
Anti-D immunoglobin, or Rh immunoglobulin, is a medication created from Harrison’s blood. Pregnant women at risk for Rh immunoglobin incompatibility may experience complications. The common cause of rhesus disease in children and this condition has serious side effects, including anemia and sometimes even abnormalities. Also, if not treated, it can be fatal in extreme circumstances.
The plasma in James Harrison’s blood contains a high concentration of immunoglobulin, which professionals can use to treat the condition. The medication can eliminate risks to the baby by isolating immunoglobin from his blood and giving the mother an injection while she still carries the child.
He turned his fear into a remarkable change
James Harrison’s journey to national heroism demonstrates that, contrary to what is shown in most stories and films, a hero can be an ordinary person doing remarkable things that make a difference. For example, he has prioritized saving babies’ lives by donating blood every three weeks for 57 years.
James Harrison never thought twice about showing his wonderful gesture of charity. Hopefully, Harrison’s story will inspire many people to do the same through his generosity.
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