Final donation for man whose blood helped save 2.4 million babies

[sl8]

From https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/final-donation-for-man-whose-blood-helped-save-2-4-million-babies-20180511-p4zerp.html

Final donation for man whose blood helped save 2.4 million babies

By Kate Aubusson
11 May 2018 — 4:10pm


James Harrison (centre), surrounded by mothers of Anti-D babies at his final donation. L-R: Christine Damiandis and Georgio, Michelle Dibbs and Eloise, Tanya McLaren and Brianna, Sarah Doyle and Grace
Photo: Steven Siewert

For every regular blood donation, three lives could be saved; an ordinary plasma donation could save 18.
But James Harrison is extraordinary. His blood has helped save the lives of 2.4 million babies.

The 81-year-old's plasma contains a potent antibody used to create a remarkable treatment known as Anti-D that protects unborn babies from the potentially deadly Rhesus D Haemolytic Disease (HDN).

On Friday, after more than 60 years and 1173 donations, Mr Harrison made his final benefaction.

“It’s a sad day for me. The end of a long run,” Mr Harrison says as his blood flows from the crook of his right arm to the plasmapheresis machine at the Town Hall Donor Centre.

...

More at link.

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. I gave platelets for the first time last week

I had given only whole blood, plasma and double red cells before. Platelets take longer but now they have donation stations with individual TVs and headphones. You can give platelets and plasma more often than whole blood.

[rurallib]

2. I wonder why they have an upper age limit?

does our blood break down as we age?

Whatever, this is simply remarkable.

I was enormously proud when I hit my 50 years last December - not sure how many donations because the hospitals records are kind of goofed up - then I read about this guy. Whooeey now that is some donating!

I hope there are more like him who can carry on.

[patricia92243]

6. Probably some meds he is now taking make him ineligible to donate. n/t

[Glorfindel]

3. What a wonderful story, and what a great guy!

I always used to give blood (working in health care, it was more or less expected), but after I started having to take meds for high blood pressure, they wouldn't let me donate any more. I try to help out in other ways, now. Thank you for posting this, sl8!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. What an amazing accomplishment! I used to give blood regularly too, until I became too anemic

I should give it a try again. It's one small way to help save lives. Thanks for the reminder!

[yellowdogintexas]

5. That is truly amazing. And wonderful.

So much is being learned about blood components and what they do.

I envy this gentleman his ability to do this for so many years. Before this discovery, moms like these would have been told they could only have 2 children maximum and one was preferable.

I have donated blood since around 1977 and am probably a 3 gallon donor. I can't donate as often as I used to because it just wipes me out physically for nearly 2 days. I wish it were not so, so I only do this when my calendar is completely clear for at least 2 days after I donate.

The Blood Center calls me fairly regularly because I have a combination of blood components which help Sickle Cell Anemia patients tolerate their blood transfusions. Usually it is "we have a patient with SCA who is having surgery and we need to collect X number of units between now and .... can you help us" It classifies me as a "Blue Tag" donor - special use blood.

I would love to know what that is! I am about as pasty white as you can get and can't imagine where in my ancestry this could have developed. SCA is a disease of the Mediterranean and African regions, and it is now known that persons carrying the gene have higher resistance to malaria. I don't think I carry the actual gene, just weird blood proteins or something.

Give Life - Give Blood

[Lars39]

7. I keep coming back to this wonderful post just to see the photo...

it looks like a painting! Kudos to the photographer for composition. The people placement and rich yet subdued colors are gorgeous.