At age 14, James Harrison underwent major chest surgery and received 13 liters of blood. He vowed to donate blood himself when he turned 18. He kept that promise, then exceeded it in a way no one expected.
Doctors discovered that Harrison's blood contained an extremely rare antibody that could be used to make Anti-D injections — a treatment that prevents Rhesus disease, a deadly condition affecting babies whose mothers' immune systems attack their unborn child's red blood cells.
For the next 60 years, Harrison donated plasma 1,173 times — almost every two weeks. His donations were used to produce more than 2 million Anti-D doses. Estimates from the Australian Red Cross indicate his blood saved approximately 2.4 million babies.
The "Man with the Golden Arm"
- Started donating in 1954, at age 18
- Holds the Guinness World Record for most blood plasma donated
- Was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999
- Among the babies he helped save: his own grandson
- Retired from donating in 2018 at age 81 (Australia's age limit)
Why His Blood Was Special
Researchers believe his rare antibody developed in response to the transfusions he received as a teenager. Only about 200 people in Australia carry the same antibody — and Harrison was the most committed donor in human history.
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