The childhood of Australian James Harrison was not the easiest. At age 14, he had to undergo major surgery when one of his lungs was removed in a procedure that lasted hours, not to mention the 3 months he was hospitalized for recovery.

Such a traumatic experience would make a person never want to know about needles and hospitals, right? But fortunately the exact opposite happened. Given the complexity of the procedure he underwent, he needed 13 bags of blood during the operation, essential to have remained alive today. Shortly after his recovery, the boy swore that he would donate blood regularly when he was a minimum age, as a way to repay the help he received from strangers.

James Harrison

As soon as he turned 18, James kept his promise and began giving. One thing to note is that the man hates needles, and every time a nurse starts the process, he turns his face to try to ease the discomfort. And did it until the last donation.

Fetal erythroblastosis

At the same time, Australian scientists were trying to figure out why so many babies died. This happened in the 1960s, and in the period spontaneous abortions and children born with brain problems were common.

It was soon discovered that babies were suffering from what is now known as fetal erythroblastosis, or newborn hemolytic disease (NRHD). This condition manifests most commonly when the mother has Rh-negative blood, and the developing child has Rh-positive blood, causing the mother to reject the baby.

At the same time, research has shown that disease prevention was possible by administering a rare antibody naturally present in some people's plasma. Several blood banks were consulted for this precious component item, and, coincidentally, James Harrison was one of the people who had it.

The man with the golden arm

Once he was identified as one of the rare people with the antibody, the scientists contacted him, asking if he could participate in a research entitled Anti-D Program. Since he was already a routine blood donor, he didn't think twice and agreed to help others like that as well.

Harrison surrounded by mothers who benefited from the vaccine

A vaccine was developed using James' plasma as a base, and in 1967 the first pregnant woman received a dose. Since then, he has continued to make regular donations that, according to the Red Cross, accounted for millions of antibody doses.

Scientists are unsure why Harrison has this trait, but they believe the fact that he received blood from so many different donors may have stimulated his body to make such precious antibodies.

Although in an interview conducted in 2010, the Australian said he would never stop giving, his age prompted him to do so. Already 81, over the age for this activity, James made his 1173rd donation. As it was the last, balloons with the numbers 1 1 7 3 were placed in the collection center, and parents of some of the children who benefited from the vaccine appeared to honor him.

Caricature made in honor of James

He entered the record book in 2003 as the man who donated the most blood in the world, but in interviews says that despite recognition and honors, what makes his attitude more rewarding is knowing that he is saving the lives of children. . He even helped his own daughter because her Rh factor and her grandson were not compatible.

Every fortnight for sixty years, James Harrison has been making the trek to the Red Cross to donate blood. # 9News | https://t.co/ZiY2jT1X46 pic.twitter.com/sivoQoKz5a

- Nine News Sydney (@ 9NewsSyd) May 11, 2018

Now retired from the activity, James hopes his donation record will still be broken if it is possible for someone as dedicated to the cause to appear as he can.