“When He calls on me, I will answer Him." ~ Psalm 91:15
The elderly man reclined in a
chair, squeezing a firm sponge nonchalantly. A nurse prepared to draw one final blood donation from his arm. As James had done countless times before, he
turned his head away from the needle as it entered his arm; “he still can’t
stand the pain."
With eyes closed he let the memories flood him like an early
summer breeze. All the commotion disappeared
in an instant. His thoughts took him
back to where it all began, nearly 70 years ago.
He’d been just 14 when he suffered a chest injury so severe
that a lung had to be removed. The
near-death experience required transfused blood from 13 strangers to save his
life. During his recovery, James vowed
to donate as soon as he reached his 18th birthday to “repay the
favor.”
Little did he know that within his veins flowed the answer
to a deadly problem among infants called Rhesus disease. This disease caused a pregnant mother's blood
to attack her unborn baby's blood cells.
In the worst cases, it resulted in blindness, brain damage, or even death
for the infants.
His donation became a game changer!
Dubbed the “Man With A Golden Arm,” James donated nearly
every week for 60 years, a deed whose more than 1,173 ‘gifts’ remain unmatched. According to the Australian Red Cross, he’s
helped saved the lives of more than 2.4 million Australian babies, including
his own grandson whose life was spared by the Anti-D vaccine. Prior to 1967, literally thousands of babies
in Australia alone died each year from Rhesus. (Australia was one of the first countries to discover a blood donor with this antibody).
Doctors aren't exactly sure why he had this rare blood type,
but think it might have originated from the transfusions he received after his chest
surgery. Less than 50 Australians are
known to have the needed antibodies.
“We’re all done, Mr. Harrison,” waking James from his trek
down memory lane. “And thank you again
for your generosity over these past 51 years.”
A grin spread across his face. “It’s probably my only talent,” he said. “I just hope that my record continues to be
broken!”
Thus, the occasion marked the end of a monumental chapter. He didn’t hesitate to answer God’s call. Big deeds don’t always come with fame, but
they always come with results.
Don’t you wonder how many times we’ve missed the blessing of
being called by God because we were too consumed by what was going on in our own
lives and failed to obey His direction?
