Si James Harrison, isa sa pinaka-dakilang blood donors sa mundo, pumanaw noong Pebrero 17 sa edad na 88 sa isang nursing home sa New South Wales, Australia. Ngayon (Marso 3), kinumpirma ng kanyang pamilya ang balita.
In 2005, he set a world record as the person with the most donated blood plasma—a record which was only defeated in 2022. He has anti-D antibody, a rare blood component used for medicine against Newborn Hemolytic Disease (HDFN), which has helped nearly 2.4 million babies. Because of this, he was called "Golden Arm".
According to Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, he started donating blood at the age of 18 after undergoing lung surgery at 14 and receiving multiple blood transfusions. Since then, he donated every two weeks until 81 years old.
According to his daughter, Tracey Mellowship, Harrison is very proud to help other people, especially if it doesn't cost money or pain. "He said it doesn't hurt to donate, and maybe one day, we'll need it too." His son and two grandchildren both received anti-D immunization.
The HDFN occurs when the blood of a pregnant woman and her baby are not compatible. Because of this, the mother's immune system attacks the baby's red blood cells, which can cause anemia, heart failure, or death. Before anti-D treatment was developed in the 1960s, about 50% of affected babies died.
It is still not known how Harrison developed anti-D antibodies, but experts think it may be due to transfusions during his youth.
Currently, less than 200 donors in Australia have anti-D blood, but they help 45,000 pregnant women and babies every year. Scientists continue to study to produce lab-grown anti-D antibodies that will help more people around the world.
