James Harrison, Lifesaving Blood Donor, Dies at 88

James Harrison, known as 'The Man with the Golden Arm', passed away at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of altruism and medical innovation. He began donating blood at 18 and continued until his retirement at 81, amassing over 1,173 donations, which contributed to the creation of a life-saving medication known as Anti-D. This medication has been credited with saving approximately 2.4 million babies from hemolytic disease, a condition that can arise when a pregnant mother’s blood attacks her fetus. Harrison's remarkable contributions began after he received multiple blood transfusions during a life-threatening surgery at age 14, motivating him to give back. His daughter described him as a proud humanitarian who was deeply committed to helping others without any personal gain. The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has praised his extraordinary impact on maternal and child health, highlighting that every ampule of Anti-D produced in Australia contained his antibodies.