Have you ever heard of “golden blood”? The name refers to blood with a null Rh factor, that is, without the antigen on the surface of red blood cells, which has the Anti-D antibody, used in injections for pregnant women.
It is rare and makes life difficult for those with this condition, as it makes the process of receiving blood transfusions very difficult. On the other hand, it makes individuals with this Rh factor potent donors, which explains why just one man saved the babies of more than two million women in Australia.
He is James Harrison, who made his last blood donation in May 2018, aged 81. He used his condition as a life mission.
Rare discovery
The story began many decades earlier. According to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood portal, an organization dedicated to boosting donations, Harrison was 14 years old when he underwent major surgery and needed a blood transfusion. After that, he promised himself that he would take up the cause.
Ten years and many donations later, it was discovered that his blood has the necessary antibody to treat pregnant women suffering from Rhesus disease, erythroblastosis fetalis. The Australian health body explains that Anti-D immunoglobulin is an injection made from the plasma of special donors, like Harrison.
These injections help prevent women with a negative Rh(D) factor, that is, without the antigen on the surface of their red blood cells, from developing potentially aggressive antibodies during pregnancy with an Rh(D) positive baby. Without this injection, the baby runs the risk of suffering from Perinatal Hemolytic Disease, which can even cause death.
