Grandpa with golden arm who saved 2.4 million babies with blood donation completes final blood donation in his life
It is said that one blood donation can save three lives, but James Harrison of Australia has saved the lives of more than 2.4 million babies through his blood donations. Now, after donating this 'divine blood,' Harrison has made his final blood donation.
James Harrison - Pioneer of Australia's Anti-D program | Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Final donation for man whose blood helped save 2.4 million babies
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/final-donation-for-man-whose-blood-helped-save-2-4-million-babies-20180511-p4zerp.html
The following movie explains how Harrison has saved the lives of more than 2.4 million babies through blood donations.
Son sang a sauvé 2 millions de bébés - YouTube
It is known that in addition to the ABO blood system, there is also the Rh blood system. However, it is possible for a pregnant woman with Rh (-) blood type to become pregnant with a baby with Rh (+) blood type, known as an 'Rh blood type incompatibility pregnancy.'
In this case, the baby's blood (red blood cells) that enters the mother's bloodstream is regarded as a foreign substance, and a protein called 'anti-D antibody' is produced. If a mother who has produced this antibody then becomes pregnant with an Rh(+) baby, the baby's red blood cells will be attacked by the anti-D antibody, which is known to cause anemia, brain damage, or miscarriage.
In the 1960s, a vaccine called 'anti-D human immunoglobulin preparation' was developed to prevent attacks by anti-D antibodies. Harrison was the first donor with special blood to make this vaccine, and has continued to donate blood for vaccine production.
By donating blood more than 1,000 times, Harrison has saved the lives of more than 2.4 million babies by providing the plasma needed to make the vaccine. Harrison was nicknamed 'The Man with the Golden Arm' and was awarded the Order of Merit by the Australian Government in 1999.
Harrison has donated 500 to 800 ml of blood almost every week. He has donated 1,162 times from his right arm and 10 times from his left arm. And now, at the age of 81, he has donated his 1,173rd and final blood donation of his life at the Town Hall Donor Center. In order to protect his health, as he was already over the age limit for donors, the medical institution decided that this would be his last donation.
The final blood donation was made by mothers of babies whose lives were saved by Harrison's vaccine.
With the man with the golden arm retiring, Australia's vaccines will now be made from blood donated by 160 registered donors.
Continued
[Obituary] 'The man with the golden arm' James Harrison passes away, saving more than 2.4 million babies - GIGAZINE
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