Location: Sydney, Australia š¦šŗ
Story:
At age 14, James Harrison survived a major chest surgery thanks to 13 pints of donated blood. He vowed to repay that gift. When he turned 18, he made his first donationāand doctors discovered something miraculous: his blood contained a rare antibody that could prevent Rhesus disease, a condition killing thousands of newborns in Australia. James became the sole consistent source of "Anti-D" immunoglobulin, a vaccine made from his plasma. š¹
Twist:
Despite a severe fear of needles, James returned every two weeks for 60 years, looking away each time the needle went in. "The pain of a grieving mother is worse," he said. His donations,1,173 in total,saved an estimated 2.4 million babies, including his own grandchild.š He gave his last donation at 81, surrounded by mothers whose children he'd saved. James Harrison died in February 2025, a quiet end to a life that echoed in the heartbeats of millions. His legacy wasn't written in books or built in stone,it flowed in the veins of generations he never met, proof that one person's courage can heal the world. š