One of the most influential people in the world has just passed away. Australia's resident James Harrison, who has saved millions of people since the 1950s, has died at the age of 88.
The Australian Red Cross hit rate announced Harrison's death over the weekend. His plasma contains a rare antibody that doctors use to prevent life-threatening complications of high-risk pregnancy. Harrison's donation plasma has been estimated to save the lives of more than 2 million children in Australia.
“James is an amazing, kind, generous man who is dedicated to his lifelong dedication and has captured the hearts of many people in the world,” Lifeguard CEO Stephen Conelson AM said in a statement from the organization.
According to the hit, Harrison's donation habit was inspired by his early young people's lung problems, requiring surgery and blood transfusion at the age of 14. After wanting to give back, he started donating blood at the age of 18 in 1954, and he never looked back. Over the next sixty years, Harrison will donate his plasma about every three weeks. By the time he retired at 81, Harrison had donated his plasma 1,173 times.
Given the importance of blood donation, Harrison's daily work is commendable enough for anyone. But, as Fortune does, Harrison carries a rare antibody in his plasma. Our red blood cells can carry some protein on the surface of their surface (RHD). When a pregnant woman with RHD-negative blood is sensitive to RHD-positive blood cells (which usually happens during the last pregnancy), her body produces antibodies to attack and harm their RHD-positive fetus – a disease called Gangesiasis. However, a certain dose of anti-D gives people the risk of rhesus monkeys, which can prevent this anti-D from happening first.
Although many cases of rhesus monkeys are mild, the disease can sometimes lead to severe illness and even death in newborns. Therefore, according to the hit, Harrison's prolific donations undoubtedly saved many children throughout their lives, with at least 2.4 million children. His behavior dubbed people as “people with golden arms.”
Harrison never complained about his schedule, saying the donation process did not cause him pain. His daughter Tracey Mellowship said he was proud of his role in helping people across the country.
“It made him happy to hear that many families like us exist because of his kindness.”
He also hopes that his story will inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
“It is James who believes his donations are no more important than any other donor and that everyone can be as special as he does,” Cornelissen said. “He left an incredible legacy, and it's his record of donation he hopes someday someone in Australia will beat him.”
