2백4십만명이 넘는 아이들 구할 수 있는 희귀 혈액을 보유한 호주 남성 VIDEO: This Man’s Rare Blood Is Responsible for Saving the Lives of Over 2.4 Million Babies
This Man’s Rare Blood Is Responsible for Saving the Lives of Over 2.4 Million Babies
By Emma Taggart on May 17, 2018
2백4십만명이 넘는 아이들 구할 수 있는 희귀 혈액 보유 호주 남성
황금의 팔을 가진 남자로 유명해진 이 사람은 호주 출신의 제임스 해리슨이다.
2백4십만명이 넘는 생명을 책임지고 있는 사람이다.
희귀한 혈액형 때문에 호주 적십자에서 근 10년 동안이나 혈액을 정기적으로 헌혈을 하고 있다.
그의 혈액으로 안티D 백신을 만들기 위해서다.
안티 D백신은 레소스병을 치료하기 위한 약이다. 레소스병은 임신부의 혈액이 태아의 혈액 세포를
파괴하여 심각한 질병을 일으키는 질병이다.
올해 78세인 해리슨은 최근 헌혈을 마지막으로 무려 1,173회 60년 이상을 기부헌혈을 해 많은
생명을 구하는데 기여했다.
그는 레소스병에 대해 보기 드물게 항체를 보유하고 있다.
호주 여성의 17% 이상이 이 병에 노출되어 있는데 해리스 덕분에 많은 아이들이 생명을
건지게 됐다.
그는 매우 희귀한 혈액을 가지고 있었던 것이다.
황기철 콘페이퍼 에디터 큐레이터
Ki Chul Hwang, conpaper editor, curator
Known as “The Man with the Golden Arm,” Australia-based James Harrison is responsible for saving the lives of over 2.4 million babies. Thanks to rare antibodies in his blood, decades of regular blood donations to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service have helped create a vaccine called Anti-D. The formula was developed to fight against Rhesus disease—a deadly condition where antibodies in a pregnant woman’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells within the womb. Now aged 78, Harrison has recently given his final blood plasma donation, bringing the total to an amazing 1,173.
When Harrison was just 14 years old, he underwent life-threatening lung surgery, which left him hospitalized for three months. His life was saved thanks to transfusions of donated blood, which inspired him to become a donor himself. Australia’s former regulations meant Harrison had to wait until he was 18, but he stayed true to his word and has been donating blood every week ever since, for the last 60 years.
When doctors discovered Harrison’s precious antibody, they guessed it could be down to his earlier blood transfusions as a teenager. Jemma Falkenmire of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service explains the rarity of Harrison’s blood type: “Every bag of blood is precious, but James’ blood is particularly extraordinary […] Every batch of Anti-D that has ever been made in Australia has come from James’ blood.” She continues, “And more than 17% of women in Australia are at risk, so James has helped save a lot of lives.” Having now surpassed the donor age limit, Harrison humbly tells CNN, “I’d keep on going if they’d let me.”
Having received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999, Harrison’s remarkable generosity has made him a hero to many around the world.
Known as “The Man with the Golden Arm,” Australia-based James Harrison is responsible for saving the lives of over 2.4 million babies.
Thanks to rare antibodies in his blood, decades of regular blood donations to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service have helped create a vaccine called Anti-D.
The formula was developed to fight against Rhesus disease—a deadly condition where antibodies in a pregnant woman’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells within the womb.
Now aged 78, Harrison has recently given his final blood plasma donation, bringing the total to an amazing 1,173.
Australian Red Cross Blood Service: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
h/t: [Reddit, Bored Panda]
All images via Australian Red Cross Blood Service
