Read to know how.

Widely known as the “Man With The Golden Arm”, James Harrison became the world's most prolific blood donor. What made his blood even special was the fact that it contained a rare antibody, Anti-D, which is used for making medication for expecting women with Rhesus disease, i.e. when an Rh factor in the baby’s blood is not the same as that of mom. This usually happens when a Rh-negative female conceives an Rh-positive baby. Owing to the difference, the mother’s blood starts destroying the baby’s red blood cells, posing a serious threat to their life.

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When James was 14, he had to undergo major heart surgery for which he received a blood transfusion. This made him realise how important the act of donating blood was. He donated plasma for the first time when he was 18 and continued doing so every 2 weeks until he was 81, which is the upper age limit for donating blood in Australia.

“James was a remarkable, stoically kind, and generous person who was committed to a lifetime of giving and he captured the hearts of many people around the world,” shared Stephen Cornelissen, Lifeblood Chief Executive Officer.

“James extended his arm to help others and babies he would never know a remarkable 1173 times and expected nothing in return” Cornelissen further added.

“As an Anti-D recipient myself, he has left behind a family that may not have existed without his precious donations,” James’ daughter, who is herself an Anti-D recipient, shared in her statement.

James has been accredited with numerous awards for his years of commitment to saving those tiny lives. He has also been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, one of the highest honors in the country.