As a 14-year old Australian boy James Harrison, after major surgery, was saved by blood transfusions. In his gratitude, he pledged that he would donate blood as soon as he had turned 18–the required age at that time. In the 1960s, many babies in Australia were dying each year as a result of a blood disease. Doctors found that the babies could be saved by injecting their pregnant mothers with a treatment made from donated plasma with a rare antibody. Researchers scoured blood banks to see whose blood might contain this antibody and found a donor: James Harrison. In half a century since, it is estimated, that Harrison’s blood has saved 2.4 million babies. Read this heart-warming story! (The Washington Post uses a paywall if you have consumed your monthly allowance of free articles).
This man’s blood saved 2.4 million babies in 60 years
More of Today's Solutions
How job loss affects your health—and what to do about it
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Losing a job can shake more than just your budget. It can rattle your health—mentally, physically, emotionally, and ...
Read MoreCalifornia leads the way as EV charging ports outnumber gas nozzles
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM California achieved a significant milestone in its transition to electric vehicles (EVs). As of 2024, the Golden State ...
Read MoreIceland recommends this natural remedy to help with social isolation
Given that humans are by nature social animals, in a time when close contact and embracing are discouraged to slow the spread of the ...
Read MoreGetting ready for autumn: 5 ways to celebrate the autumnal equinox
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Autumn, the season of abundance, arrives with the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd of September. This a period ...
Read More
