Melbourne, Australia – A Australian man saved 2.4 million babies through six decades of blood plasma donations, he died, his family said Tuesday. He was 88 years old.
James Harrison, department of retirees, died at the old Central State of the New State of South Wales in 17 February, according to Jarrod Mellowship.
Australian Red Cross Life via AP
Harrison’s plasma had a rare antibody known as anti-d. It is used to make injections protected from hemolitic diseases of newborn children, in which the immune system of pregnant women attacks its red blood cells. The most common disease is when a woman has a negative type of blood and the baby is positive.
Australia has only 200 anti-D donors. 45,000 moms and babies help each year.
Despite being aversion with the needle, Harrison did 1,173 donations after 18 years in 1954, until he retired in 2018, at the age of 81.
“He did it for the right reasons. But he would pay attention to him. But he would never care, as he was surprised by his grandfather in 2005 as a person who gave the most blood plasma in 2005.
The disc was beaten in 2022 by American Brett Cooper Walker, Michigan.
Australian blood service pays homage to James Harrison
Red Cross Australian cross service Harrison said he had a great reputation as a “man with a gold arm”. The National Agency, Life is known as the National Agency to gather and distribute blood products.
Her General Manager of Stephen Corneliss, said Harrison hoped that someone in Australia one day was his donation disk.
“James committed to life for the rest of his life, it was very sympathetic and generous, and caught the hearts of many people around the world,” Cornelissen said in a statement.
“James believed that his donations were not more important than any other donor and everyone can have a special way,” Cornelissen added.
The lifestyle said: “James Harrison is gratitude that we recognize the generous life.
Mellowship said his mother, Tracey Mellowship, Harrison’s daughter, he and his brother, Scott, when they were born, they needed treatment.
Jarrod Meellowships said his wife, Rebecca also also needed treatment when three children were born.
How did James Harrison’s blood acquired its unique feature
There are speculation Harrison developed high anti-D concentrations as a result of the blood transfusions of major pulmonary surgery.
“After surgery, father, Reg, said that Grandad only survived because people gave blood,” said Jarrod Mellowhip. “The day he turned 18, he began to donate.”
Anti-D app against the hemolytic disease of newborn children was not found until the 1960s.
Harrison, who was born in the new South Wales, lives in his sister, Margaret Thrift, his daughter, two grandchildren and four granddanship.