James Harrison is known as “the man with a golden arm.” This is because the blood that flows in his veins is of such great value that it has saved the lives of over 2.4 million babies! He has donated his blood plasma from the age of 18 to the age of 81, when he had to stop because you cannot donate over the age of 81 in Australia.
He has donated an incredible 1,172 times all from his right arm, except for 10 times from his left arm. He has absolutely no regrets — in fact, he made the comment to the Blood Service that “I hope it’s a record that somebody breaks.”
So why was his blood of such great value? It is because he has a very rare antibody that can be used as a cure for mothers who have rhesus disease. This disease was a big problem in Australia until about 1967. Thousands of babies were dying and mothers were having many miscarriages. Babies were also being born with brain damage, and doctors didn’t know why this was happening.
Rhesus disease is a condition where a mother’s blood attacks her unborn baby’s blood cells. This happens when a mother has rhesus-negative blood and her baby has rhesus-positive blood, inherited from the father. When the mother becomes sensitized to rhesus-positive blood through an earlier pregnancy or miscarriage, she develops antibodies that attack her baby’s blood cells in subsequent pregnancies. This is what was causing so many deaths and brain damage.
Using James Harrison’s blood plasma, scientists were able to develop an injection called Anti-D. This prevents a woman with rhesus-negative blood from developing antibodies that will attack her baby. Because of this treatment, rhesus disease is a very rare problem today.
Blood Sustains Life
It is in the blood that we have life, for it is what sustains life. It was not until the seventeenth century that scientists and doctors discovered that the blood circulates throughout the body, bringing nourishment to it and purifying it as well. Thousands of years ago, the Lord spoke to His prophet Moses, saying, “The life of the flesh is in the blood ... for it is the blood that maketh an atonement [covering] for the soul” (Leviticus 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)). This has both scientific and spiritual significance, the greater significance being spiritual. Medical science finally confirmed what God had said to Moses thousands of years ago!
James Harrison’s blood was of such great value that it was the salvation of the lives of over 2 million babies. But though it could save their lives, it could not save their souls. Only the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, can do that. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on Calvary’s cross by being crucified and shedding His precious blood there. Dying, He rose again the third day, thereby making peace with God for all those who by faith would believe and put their trust in Him.
There is power in the blood of Jesus because Jesus was sinless, pure, spotless and undefiled. God is righteous to receive Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross for our sins. “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). There is power in Jesus’ blood to cleanse all those who will repent of their sins before God and fully trust in the work that was done on the cross. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:7)).
How James’ Blood Got Its Special Value
In Australia, every batch of Anti-D has come from James’ blood. More than 17% of Australian women are at risk, so you can see how very precious Harrison’s blood was. He is one of the very few people whose blood happens to have a lot of Anti-D in it in very high concentrations. When he donates his blood, his body very quickly produces another big batch of antibodies. He is one of about 200 people in Australia who produce this rare antibody.
Today, researchers are trying to reproduce this antibody in a lab. So far, the Anti-D treatment is only available through donors. A small number of people produce these antibodies because of receiving a wrong type of blood during a transfusion. Doctors think this is what happened to Mr. Harrison.
James explained that when he was 14, he had a serious operation where one lung was removed and he had to receive 13 units (nearly 2 gallons!) of blood in multiple transfusions. His life had been saved by total strangers, so he decided that when he was 18 years old, he would donate his blood. Now that he can no longer donate, he is hoping that others will take his place.
It has been easy for James to donate his blood, even though he couldn’t stand the sight of blood or tolerate pain. He just didn’t watch the needle go in, but would look at the ceiling or chat with the nurse. But, really, in his own words, it was no problem. “They give me a cup of coffee and something to nibble on. And then I just go on my way ... no problem, no hardship.”
Immense Cost for Our Immense Benefit
But it cost the Lord Jesus everything when He gave His blood for us. Leaving the palace of His glory, He came down to earth to live among men, being cruelly treated and mocked by the very ones He had created. He died an awful death of shame and sorrow on Calvary’s cross, suffering the punishment for our sins. “Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-115Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5‑11)).
Christ died for our sins. While we have life, we can receive God’s forgiveness, putting our trust in Jesus’ work on Calvary’s cross. The choice of acceptance or rejection is made NOW. Once we die, our eternal state is fixed!