A man who has saved millions of babies’ lives in his native Australia is now being recognized for his good deeds worldwide.

James Harrison, 78, gives of himself in a very literal way. For the past 60 years, he has donated blood plasma, and those donations have in turn been used to save an estimated 2 million Australian babies from Rhesus disease, a potentially fatal condition resulting from a negative blood-type mother conceiving a positive blood-type fetus.

When Harrison was 14, he underwent an operation and needed donated blood to survive. In thanks for these donors’ generosity, he pledged to give blood himself. And upon donating, doctors realized that his blood carried an antibody that could help fight Rhesus disease. Using Harrison’s blood, doctors developed the Anti-D injection, which can protect babies from the affliction.

This week, a CNN profile on Harrison’s life-saving blood has helped spread word of his good deeds beyond Australia. The story has since gone viral.

Got the drop at People.com . . .