When an Rh- pregnant woman is carrying an Rh+ baby, her own immune system can treat the baby as an attacker, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or brain damage. James Harrison, the man in this article, is a rare individual blessed with a combination of RhD-negative blood and Rh+ antibodies (in high concentration). His blood can thus be used to generate RhD immunoglobulin (aka “Anti-D”), which is administered to the mother to ward off an immune-system conflict. Over the last sixty years, he has donated blood 1172 times, and Australian health authorities estimate that he has saved the lives of 2.4 million babies. He is finally being compelled to retire due to age.
I heard him interviewed on the radio yesterday. Ended with “he hopes his record will be broken soon” 
I have him on a DeathPool list, so that when he passes(may it not be soon) his name will get more exposure on the board.
He and I have one thing in common. I donate blood, and I too am phobic about needles. I’ve never once seen the needle in my arm, and Mr Harrison says the same thing. yet he’s given about forty times as much as I have.
Fascinating.
There was an episode of the series 9-1-1 where one of the paramedics, who was battered by guilt over having caused a fire that killed 200 people, was found to be a donor who could do as much good as the guy in Australia.
I just read an article online about Mr. Harrison, and his final(1173th) donation. To celebrate the blood center brought in six mothers and their babies. those kids had benefitted from his selfless donations. What a man. I’ll bet the doctors wish they could make an age exception for this guy, he was willing to go on.
On the other hand, I think there is tremendous humanity in a society that isn’t willing to risk the health of one for the many. He’s done his part and there are now others to carry his torch.
Out of curiosity, would such a person be eligible for a Nobel Prize by the Nobel rules/regulations?
Not that he’d get one, but wondering if he could.
I’m guessing you mean the Peace prize and not the Medicine prize, seeing as he didn’t contribute any knowledge; the prize is for discoveries in Medicine, not for just generally being a good person for Medical reasons. The Peace prize is supposed to be awarded to whoever “[did] the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. I don’t think he fits.