The Man With The ‘Golden’ Arm

James Harrison, nicknamed the ‘Man with the Golden Arm’, is an Australian whose unusual blood composition has saved approximately 2.4 million lives. For 60 years, he made more than 1,100 plasma donations due to the presence of a rare antibody that allowed the development of the Anti-D injection, an essential treatment to prevent Rhesus disease in newborns.

This condition occurs when a Rh-negative mother’s blood attacks the blood cells of her Rh-positive baby, causing serious complications, including severe anemia, brain damage and even fetal death.

Harrison began donating at 18, motivated by the transfusions he received after chest surgery at 14, an experience that led him to commit to the cause. His tireless work made him a key piece of modern medicine and a silent hero for millions of families.