James Harrison He was 14 years old when he had to undergo an operation in which he lost a lot of blood. He needed a few ladies to stay alive. Therefore, during his recovery, he decided that he wanted to return to his health that he gave him. He thought that when he became older, he would become a donor. But I had no idea that this would ultimately become a person more blood donations stories. In February of this year, he died at the age of 88, but millions of people around the world are still alive due to the fact that many already know how “Golden Hand.”
If he decided to sacrifice so much blood, it was because it was discovered that he produces a large number A very necessary antibodyThis is used to treat pregnant women with the risk of their children to experience The hemolytic disease of the newborn. This is a condition that is created by incompatibility between Blood group and fetusThis usually does not cause problems during the first pregnancy, but in the second, if they correspond to certain fatal conditions, this can even be deadly.
Until the 60s, this disease caused great child mortality. In addition, I stood behind many people with disabilities. However, in this decade it was discovered that, introduced by pregnant women, can avoid a condition. To joy, a few years after James Harrison began with his donations, it was found that his blood contains very high concentrations of the mentioned antibodies. There would be no need to resort to mass donation of blood. With blood plasma, this Australian species was enough to save a lot of lives.
Why is the hemolytic disease of the newborn?
There is a much larger number than we tend to believe in blood groups. But we all agree that the most common 4: 0, A, B and AB. Each of them can be + O –Depending on whether this person contains RH protein in his cells. For example, someone with group A, but without RH, will be a-. Someone with 0 and RH will be 0+.
RH protein is very antigenic. That is The immune system This can recognize her as a threat if she is not familiar with her. RH+ people do not have this problem, because their immune system has always lived with protein. Instead, people may experience excellent The protective answer of your body.
This is exactly what happens when a woman with RH is pregnant with the RH+fruit. In principle, the protein of the fetus does not come into contact with the maternal immune system. However, if the placenta breaks down, for impact, abortion or invasive prenatal dough, the child’s cells and the mother can be mixed in large quantities so that the immune system enters the RH protein. When this happens, there is The first wave of antibodies Fight that the mother’s body interprets as a threat. This is not an excessive answer. However, antibodies are generated to memory, as in a vaccine. In this case, when there is a second meeting with RH, there may be an excessive protective answer.
For this reason, if there is a second pregnancy, and the child is also RH+, the immune system, already prepared, can attack all his arsenal, causing serious problems for the fetus. Damage can be caused Liver, spleen or brainAmong other organs. They can be transient, influence the child throughout his life or, in the worst case, cause death.
What was discovered in the 60s was an antibody that helps to attack the RH protein at the first meeting, but is much more controlled, so the immune system between the game is not necessarily.
This antibody began to be used as Part of the preventive drug For pregnant women at risk. James Harrison began to make his blood donations in 1954. Initially, it was something much more punctual, but when he saw his unusual concentration of this protein, he could not reject. The best way to return what they did for him at the age of 14.
James Harrison, Human Drug Factory
Doctors who discovered the curious quality of James Harrison offered to sacrifice blood more often. He could reject this because no one forced him. In addition, he suffered from needles. He has already encountered enough with his fears with several blood donations. But he helped without hesitation.
He began to sacrifice a plasma every 15 days until 81 years. They were all 1173 blood donation of those who were received by sufficient antibodies to save their lives 2.4 million children.
His wife was also a familiar blood donor. He died before him; But, despite the fine that suggested it, he did not miss his appointment with the needle until he was considered too old to continue.
Today we regret his death, which occurred peacefully, during sleep in his house in the New South Wales. He himself was always very proud of what he had done, and wanted someone to defeat his record. At the moment, no one has done this, but perhaps this person will appear soon. Until then, we can only recall and celebrate everything that was achieved thanks to his kindness.
Other records of blood donations in addition to James Harrison
James Harrison had a record of blood donations around the world. In Spain, we have our own golden hand. It is true that he will not reach the figures of the Australian, but also sacrificed a huge number of times.
This is about Burgos Francisco del Amo Zarko, 68 years. In 2024, he became European, which sacrificed throughout the entire time, overcoming 500 donations. Only James Harrison and a Texas man who does not overcome this, but makes it equal. Although there is a big difference between the donor of Texas and Harrison and the master. And while blood donations Rewarded in the United StatesIn Spain and Australia, they are absolutely altruistic. This makes the feat of people like they are even more important. Because the only payments of Spanish and Australian were always satisfaction, knowing that with the help of one puncture they can save a lot of lives. Of course, their stories are so inspired that they necessarily encourage many people to become donors.
Source: Hiper Textual
