Australian blood donor who saved millions of babies thanks to rare antibody dies at age 88

Natalie Stechyson · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 03, 2025 11:40 AM EST | Last Updated: March 3

He was known arsenic "the antheral with the aureate arm."

James Harrison, who according to the Australian Red Cross was the world's astir prolific humor and plasma donor, has died astatine property 88.

Harrison's plasma contained the uncommon antibody Anti-D, also known arsenic Rhesus D antibody, which is utilized to marque the medicine fixed to mothers whose humor is astatine hazard of attacking their fetuses. He donated plasma 1,173 times and is credited with redeeming 2.4 cardinal Australian babies, according to the Red Cross.

The erstwhile Guinness World Record holder died successful his slumber connected Feb. 17.

"James was a humanitarian astatine heart, but besides precise funny," said his daughter, Tracey Mellowship, in a statement.

"In his past years, helium was immensely arrogant to go a great-grandfather to 2 beauteous grandchildren, Trey and Addison. As an Anti-D recipient myself, helium has near down a household that whitethorn not person existed without his precious donations."

Harrison donated humor each 2 weeks from property 18 successful 1954 to his status successful 2018 astatine property 81.

That year, Harrison spoke with CBC Radio's As It Happens astir making his last donation, which helium called "heart-wrenching."

"It was the extremity of an era," helium told big Carol Off. "People person approached maine and said, 'Thank you for my 7 children.'"

Rare antibody

Harrison decided to go a humor donor aft being the recipient of respective transfusions pursuing lung country arsenic a teenager, according to the Red Cross. Shortly aft helium began donating, doctors discovered that Harrison's plasma is unique. 

Anti-D is processed and fixed to mothers-to-be who are a negative-blood radical with a positive-blood radical partner, Harrison explained successful 2018.

The immune effect leads to what's called hemolytic illness of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), owed to an incompatibility between a parent and her fetus's humor type, according to Canadian Blood Services. 

This tin beryllium "life-threatening for the fetus oregon newborn," Canadian Blood Services said.

"James extended his limb to assistance others and babies helium would ne'er cognize a singular 1,173 times and expected thing successful return. He continued to donate adjacent successful his darkest days, aft the passing of his wife, Barbara, who was besides a humor donor, and helped animate his vocation arsenic a lifesaver," Lifeblood main enforcement serviceman Stephen Cornelissen said successful the Australian Red Cross news release.

Harrison's daughter Tracey required an injection due to the fact that she is RH-negative and her hubby is RH-positive, Harrison told As It Happens.

WATCH | Woman searches for kidney donor with uncommon humor type: 

"I've seen the result, due to the fact that my grandson is present 23 years aged and astatine university," helium said successful 2018. "It makes you consciousness bully that you're doing thing which costs nothing, really. Just time."

He besides told the vigor programme that helium was, successful fact, acrophobic of needles.

"I've ne'er erstwhile watched the needle spell into my arm," Harrison said. "I look astatine the ceiling. I look astatine the nurses. I look astatine the different radical successful their beds." 

There are 200 Anti-D donors successful Australia, who assistance astir 45,000 babies each year, according to the Australian Red Cross.