James didn't hesitate.
He switched from giving blood to giving plasma, so he could help as many people as possible.
He became Australia's first anti-D donor. And its most prolific.
Advertisement
Every two weeks, he came back and sat in the chair. All but 10 of his donations came from the same arm, his right.
From 1967 on, more than 3 million doses of anti-D containing his blood went to Australian mothers. Thanks to his donations, Australia became the first country in the world to supply all the anti-D it needed.
People started calling him the man with the golden arm.
He didn't see it that way.
"Some people say, 'Oh, you're a hero.' But I'm in a safe room, donating blood. They give me a cup of coffee and something to nibble on."
— James Harrison