James Harrison, known as “The Man with the Golden Arm,” was an Australian who died at the age of 88 in February 2021. Despite having a strong dislike for needles, Mr. Harrison became one of the most prolific donors in history, donating plasma 1,173 times over the course of 64 years, from 1954 to 2018.

His plasma contained a rare antibody called anti-D, which was used to develop a medication that has protected an estimated 2.4 million babies in Australia from potential disease or death. This condition occurs when a mother’s immune system attacks the fetus’s red blood cells due to a blood type incompatibility.

Mr. Harrison first started donating blood at the age of 18 after he required several blood transfusions during major lung surgery. This inspired him to become a donor and encourage others to do so as well. Despite old age and traveling, Mr. Harrison never missed a donation appointment.

Mr. Harrison also had two relatives who received injections made with his plasma: his daughter, Tracey Mellowship, and his granddaughter-in-law, Rebecca Mellowship.

Scientists in Australia are currently working on creating a synthetic version of the anti-D antibody found in Mr. Harrison’s plasma. However, human donors remain essential for producing the antibodies through donated plasma.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/obituaries/james-harrison-dead-blood.html