KarunaNews Story

An Australian man who saved 2.4 million babies by donating plasma over 1,100 times has died at the age of 88. James Harrison passed away in his sleep on 17 February. Nicknamed the “man with the golden arm”, he started donating as an 18-year-old in 1954, four years after receiving blood transfusions following lung surgery. His plasma contained a rare antibody called Anti-D which doctors used to help mothers whose blood was at risk of attacking their unborn babies. He never missed a fortnightly appointment in more than six decades of donating. Stephen Cornelissen, chief executive officer of Lifeblood, a division of the Australian Red Cross, said Harrison hoped someday, someone would beat his donation record.