There's a Facebook post circulating about James Harrison, an Australian man whose blood plasma donations saved 2.4 million babies. I never would have heard of this amazing man had I not stumbled upon this post on my newsfeed. So I did a quick Google search and found out he had passed away very recently at the age of 88. Harrison started donating his blood in 1954, and it was later discovered that his blood contained a high level of anti-D antibodies. I don't know how to explain this, so I am going to quote Wikipedia verbatim:
Blood which contains a high level of anti-D antibodies can be processed to create immunoglobulin-based products used to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). These products are given to Rh(D) negative mothers of unknown or Rh(D) positive babies during and after pregnancy to prevent the creation of antibodies to the blood of the Rh(D) positive child. This antigen sensitization and subsequent incompatibility phenomenon causes Rh disease, the most common form of HDN. Source
Through his donations, he had provided countless doses of anti-D and helped prevent neonatal deaths and stillbirths. That is an extraordinary feat of kindness and human generosity.
However, underneath that Facebook post, a discussion erupted. Some commentators argued that he is more deserving of recognition than celebrities or authors who have won Nobel prizes. They said, after all, what is literature compared to saving human lives?
I beg to differ.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind that saving a life through blood or plasma donation is unquestionably noble. His noble deed is tangible, irrefutable, with an immediate positive effect. But to dismiss the contributions of literature or to suggest that books and the written word (regardless of their form) do not save lives is to misunderstand the very essence of what it means to be human.
I was a reader long before I was an artist or a writer. Books have been my refuge since I was eight years old. They were my loyal and constant companions when the world felt too lonely, too loud, or too indifferent. And I believe with all my heart I am not alone in this. Across the world, people have found comfort in literature, be it in the carefully written stories of others or in poetry. There are countless, nameless people who stood on the edge of despair and were ready to give up their lives, only to find themselves pulled back from that edge by a book, a passage, a poem, or even a fictional character. All of these elements of literature become a reminder that they were never alone in facing their darkness.
My latest read. It's a comforting read for those suffering from depression (MDD or dysthymia).
Books do not just entertain. They also bring healing to those who invest time reading them. I wrote a post about this a couple of months ago, where I discussed the transformative power of literature. Literature and the written word offer clarity where confusion resides. They offer hope where darkness lingers. They validate the lonely, challenge the complacent, and give voice to the voiceless.
If a blood donor saves a body, an author can save a mind, a heart, and a reason to keep going.
So, should James Harrison be honored? Absolutely. But so should the authors, the poets, and all storytellers who brought comfort to the broken souls. There is a reason for every good thing we accomplished in this world. Our life is not just about survival. We can do good things too, just like blood/plasma donors, or write something to encourage someone. And both groups of people play their parts in making the world a place worth living in.
That's it for now. If you read this far, thank you. I appreciate it so much! I'm a non-native English speaker, and English is my third language. Post ideas and content are originally mine. Kindly give me a follow if you like my content. I mostly write about making art, writing, life musings, and our mundane yet charming family life here in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
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@coloringiship both must be rewarded because both deserved to be known for their acts. I think there's no need to compare since they are in different fields. But we can't force people comments. Nowadays whenever you did bad or good deeds people have the opinion 😊