Current Date: 27 Jan, 2026
{{entry.title}}

Man's Blood Helped Save Millions of Babies

Australian blood donor James Harrison has been one of our most impressive and valued donors, having donated for 60 years. Know his story, how he was a pioneer of our Anti-D program, and why this matters.

On Friday, May 11th, 2018, James gave his final blood donation, saving the lives of over 2 million Australian women’s newborns.

The 81-year-blood old’s contains a valuable antibody that is used to manufacture Anti-D, a life-saving drug given to moms whose blood is at risk of attacking their unborn kids.

James was one of the first participants in our Anti-D program. Since 1967, more than 3 million Anti-D doses containing James’ blood have been distributed to Australian women with a negative blood type. James, often known as “The Man with the Golden Arm,” has donated over 1,100 times.

How it all began

mans Blood Helped Save Millions of Babies 2
James Harrison making one of his 1100 blood plasma donations to create the anti-D vaccine. Photo Credit:AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS BLOOD SERVICE

James was 14 years old when he underwent serious chest surgery and needed strangers’ blood to save his life. He promised to give as soon as he was old enough, and he followed his word four years later. Despite his fear to needles, he began by donating blood.

It was revealed in his blood almost a decade later that he had a key antibody that was required to create Anti-D injections. James was delighted to continue donating and move to plasma donation to help as many people as possible.

What is Anti-D?

Anti-D immunoglobin is a plasma-based injection made from unique donors like James.

During pregnancy with a Rh(D) positive baby, these injections protect Rh(D) negative mothers from accumulating potentially dangerous antibodies. Without it, their next Rh(D) positive baby could develop the potentially deadly Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN).

James Harrison last blood donation

Mans Blood Helped Save Millions of Babies 1
James Harrison is surrounded by mothers and their children during his last blood donation, May 11, 2018, in Sydney. Photo Credit: Subel Bhandari/dpa/Newscom

“It’s a sad day for me. The end of a long run,” Harrison, 81, told The Sydney Morning Herald on the day of his last donation. “I’d keep on going if they’d let me.”

Harrison has surpassed the donor age limit.

Similar Stories
Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

Nathan's Famous Doctor Stunt

When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.

Top 10 most cruel medical procedures that are being used today

Top 10 most cruel medical procedures that are being used today

We are all aware that medicine has advanced dramatically over the last fifty years. There are several modern medical approaches available today, but this was not always the case. However, the past of medicine is a dark one. Medical leeches, lobotomy, vascular surgery, cranial stenosis, and even electroshock therapy are all options. These are only a couple of the cruel healing techniques that are still in use today.

Ancient Egyptians Had Pregnancy Tests Over 3500 Years Ago

Ancient Egyptians Had Pregnancy Tests Over 3500 Years Ago

The ancient Egyptians used a pregnancy test that involved potentially pregnant women peeing on barley and wheat seeds. Plant growth indicated pregnancy: barley for a boy and wheat for a girl. Later tests revealed that pregnant women's urine causes plant growth 70% of the time, whereas non-pregnant women's urine does not.

Robert Odlum, the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge

Robert Odlum, the first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge

The first person to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge was a professional high diver who "wanted to demonstrate that people did not die simply by falling through the air, thus encouraging people to be willing to jump from a burning building into a net." He proved himself correct by safely falling 135 feet through the air and dying only when he hit the water.

The Arabia Steamboat: Unearthing a 19th Century Time Capsule from the Missouri River

The Arabia Steamboat: Unearthing a 19th Century Time Capsule from the Missouri River

The Arabia was a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. Over time, the river shifted 800 meters to the east, eventually turning the site of the sinking into a field. The steamboat remained under 45 feet of slit and topsoil until 1988, when it was excavated. The mud, as it turned out, was such a great preserver that most of the artifacts on board were found to be intact. They even found jars of preserved apples that were still edible!

Keith Sapsford: The Story of 14-Year-Old Stowaway

Keith Sapsford: The Story of 14-Year-Old Stowaway

The final image of 14-year-old Australian Keith Sapsford, who aspired to travel the world. In February 1970, he sneaked into the wheel-well of a plane flying from Sydney to Tokyo. It opened mid-air & fell out. When a photographer was testing a new lens, he captured this moment on film and was surprised when it developed.

The Assassination Of King Alexander

The Assassination Of King Alexander

The assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. This article delves into the rise and reign of King Alexander, exploring his early life and ascension to the throne. It also examines the political and social climate in interwar Yugoslavia, setting the stage for the tensions and challenges that ultimately culminated in his tragic assassination. By understanding the context in which this event unfolded, we can better grasp the significance and impact it had on the nation and its future.