Fetal erythroblastosis is a condition that affects fetuses and poses a significant risk to their lives. It occurs due to an incompatibility between the mother’s blood and that of the baby. Fortunately, there is a silent hero in Australia who has managed to save millions of children with this condition.
His name is James Harrison, and he has made over a thousand donations throughout his life, and now he is preparing for retirement.
James is best known as “the man with the golden arm.”
It all began when James was just 14 years old and had to undergo a life-saving surgery. After experiencing several complications, it became vital for James to receive 13 liters of blood, and fortunately, there were no shortage of donors to help save him.
After successfully recovering from that challenging experience, Harrison reflected on the importance of donations and made a personal commitment to make as many donations as possible to contribute his part.
In December, James celebrated his 82nd birthday.
What James didn’t expect was that his blood would turn out to be a remarkable discovery. After making the initial donations, experts noticed that Harrison’s blood contained a rare antibody used in some pregnant mothers to prevent fetal erythroblastosis.
James’s blood is one of the few that contains a high concentration of Rho(D) AD immune globulin.
Once he discovered the tremendous value of his blood, the donations did not stop. James Harrison made his way to donate every 15 days and managed to save the lives of countless babies thanks to his famous golden arm.
“I have saved many lives and helped bring many new children into the world. It’s something that makes me feel good,” he said.
The impact of his donations on the health of so many babies led to James Harrison’s life being valued at nothing less than a million dollars. His kindness and willingness to help save anyone in need were so immense that in 1999, he received a medal for the Order of Australia.
It is estimated that James’s blood has saved the lives of over two million babies.
Unfortunately, after a remarkable career of saving millions of babies, the legendary blood donor has had to retire. James exceeded the age limit set by law for blood donations, so he retired with a heavy heart after years of dedicated work.
“It’s a sad day for me,” he expressed.
There is no doubt that James Harrison not only has a very special blood type but also an enormous heart.
Leave a Reply