Overview

• James Harrison, known as the 'Man with the Golden Arm,' donated blood plasma over 1,100 times between 1954 and 2018, saving an estimated 2.4 million babies.
• His blood contained a rare anti-D antibody, which was used to create a treatment preventing Rhesus disease, a condition where a mother's immune system attacks her fetus's red blood cells.
• Harrison began donating blood at 18 after receiving life-saving transfusions during lung surgery at the age of 14, inspiring his lifelong commitment to helping others.
• The anti-D treatment, developed in the 1960s using Harrison's plasma, has protected countless mothers and babies from severe complications, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
• Harrison passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 17, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled generosity and a challenge to find new donors with similarly rare antibodies.