Man with rare antibody saving unborn children becomes blood donor royalty
Arthur Croft's 500 blood donations have saved thousands of lives. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth)
In short:
Arthur Croft has been donating blood for decades, and is one of only 170 people in Australia who can produce the anti-D antibody.
The antibody is used to stop the red blood cells of a mother with a negative blood type from attacking their unborn child with a positive blood type.
What's next?
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling on more men to donate blood.
Arthur Croft's regular blood donations have helped save the lives of thousands of women and children across New South Wales.
He has recently racked up his 500th donation, having been a regular blood donor for decades.
"Most of the time you don't even know the needle is going in," he said.
Mr Croft is one of just 170 people in Australia with the ability to produce the anti-D antibody.
It means the plasma in his blood is turned into an antidote that is given to pregnant women who have a negative blood type while their unborn child has a positive blood type.
It is called RH disease.
If women do not receive the antidote, their antibodies can attack the red blood cells of the baby, potentially causing brain damage or stillbirth.
Regular donations
Mr Croft was selected to be part of the anti-D program by the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood after being a regular donor for five years.
The program involves a regular anti-D booster shot which produces the antibodies. He then donates blood fortnightly.
"I was just a regular donor like everyone else, there was no anti-D there until they give you the booster shot and that's when you discover whether you have a high enough count to remain on the program," he said.
He is required to travel from Albury to Sydney every six months for a booster shot
"Out of the whole lot of donors I'm doing about a quarter for the state," he said.
More than one thousand antidotes are produced every time Mr Croft donates, which is then sent to hospitals across NSW.
Special reunion
A mother with a negative blood type may create antibodies that will attack the red blood cells of her next unborn child with a positive blood type.
Wagga Wagga's Rebekah Manwaring received four injections of the antidote throughout her two pregnancies.
Leo Manwarring's mother received anti-D injections during her pregnancy. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth)
She and her children met with Mr Croft when he made his 500th blood donation, and said it was like meeting a real life super hero.
"You are told that it comes from donated blood but I don't think you really realise that someone has committed their life essentially to making sure this is available for mums," she said.
"For me, that meant that my daughter got a brother."
Ms Manwaring's children, 13-year-old Layla and nine-year-old Leo designed a special card for Mr Croft.
Leo said he made the card to thank Mr Croft for his donations.
"If he didn't give it to my mum, I don't think I would be a thing," he said.
Mr Croft said the homemade card brought a tear to his eye.
"It was very much appreciated, they were wonderful," he said.
More donors needed
Around 17 per cent of mothers have a negative blood group.
Jemma Falkenmire from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood said RH disease was "awful" before the antibody was discovered.
"It's pretty much eradicated thanks to only around 170 Australians, including Arthur whose blood is making this antibody," she said.
"Every single one of his donations is saving up to 250 babies for having this disease."
Mothers and children who benefited from Mr Croft's donations wrote him a thank you card. (ABC Riverina: Rachel Holdsworth)
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for more male donors in Australia.
"If you're a female donor, you can't do it, it only works for men and that's because women bear children," Ms Falkenmire said.
"It's a big ask for people, it is more than just coming in every two weeks."