Australia has lost one of its most extraordinary citizens, James Harrison, who passed away at the age of 88. Harrison’s remarkable legacy is built on his rare donated blood, which has saved countless lives since the 1950s.

The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood recently announced Harrison’s passing. The unique antibody present in his blood plasma has been instrumental in preventing a potentially fatal complication in high-risk pregnancies. Estimates suggest that Harrison’s donated plasma has saved the lives of over two million children in Australia.

According to Stephen Cornelissen AM, CEO of Lifeblood, “James was an exceptional individual, known for his kindness, generosity, and commitment to giving. He touched the hearts of people all around the world,” as stated in a statement from the organization.

Harrison’s decision to donate blood was inspired by a near-fatal lung condition he suffered from in his youth, which required surgery and numerous blood transfusions at the age of 14. This experience motivated him to start donating his blood at 18, in 1954, and he continued to do so every three weeks for the next six decades. By the time he retired at 81, Harrison had made an astonishing 1,173 donations.

What made Harrison’s donations particularly significant was the presence of a rare antibody called anti-D in his plasma. This antibody is used to prevent Rhesus disease, a condition that can occur when a pregnant woman with RhD-negative blood is exposed to RhD-positive blood cells. Harrison’s donations of anti-D have been instrumental in preventing this condition, which can cause severe illness or even death in newborns.

According to Lifeblood, Harrison’s donations have saved the lives of at least 2.4 million children. His selfless acts have earned him the nickname “Man with the Golden Arm.”

Despite his rigorous donation schedule, Harrison never complained about the process, stating that it didn’t cause him any pain. He took pride in the role he played in helping people across the country, as noted by his daughter, Tracey Mellowship, who received anti-D herself.

“Hearing about the many families like ours who existed because of his kindness brought him immense joy,” Mellowship said in a statement from Lifeblood.

Harrison hoped that his story would inspire others to follow in his footsteps and make a positive impact on their communities.

As Cornelissen noted, “James believed that his donations were no more important than anyone else’s, and that everyone has the potential to be special in their own way. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, and his hope was that one day, someone in Australia would surpass his donation record.”