James Harrison Donor Passes Away at 88 After Saving Millions with Rare Blood

James Christopher Harrison was an Australian man born on December 27, 1936, in Junee, New South Wales. He started donating blood in 1954 and continued to do so until 2018, at the age of 81. Harrison's blood was particularly valuable due to the presence of Anti-D, a rare antibody found in his plasma, which was discovered in 1966. This antibody was used to create a medication that prevented hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) in approximately 2.4 million babies in Australia. Harrison donated his plasma over 1,100 times, and it was used to produce 2.4 million doses of anti-D medication. His contributions to medicine and philanthropy have saved countless lives, earning him the nickname "The Man with the Golden Arm."