Jacob Fry knows the powerful impact his story has on people.

That at the age of 21, he was involved in a head-on car accident on the Phillip Island Rd at Surf Beach and was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital with a horrifying list of injuries.

He was given less than a 5 per cent chance of survival yet went on to survive after being given massive amounts of blood.

The father-of-one – who has undergone 33 surgeries - is one of Victoria’s most generous blood donors, but also now gives plasma to save the lives of about 17 per cent of Australia’s pregnant mums and babies.

“I realise I do have a powerful story so I want to use it as much as possible to give back, to motivate others to give blood, but also to encourage people to enrich the lives of others,” says Jacob, pictured with his daughter Adele and wife Sharnee loving life on the beach.

See inside today’s paper for the full story.

How Jacob saves lives

What is anti-D?

Anti-D is a plasma product produced from the blood of selected Rh (D) negative donors. The product is given to pregnant women who are Rh (D) negative to prevent their babies from developing Haemolytic Disease, which can be fatal.

Who needs anti-D?

About 17 per cent of mothers in Australia will need anti-D injections during each of their pregnancies and after the birth of an Rh (D) positive baby.

How is anti-D made?

Anti-D can only be produced from the blood of a select group of donors. These donors all have the Rh (D) negative blood type but they also have an antibody called anti-D. Very few people, and even fewer donors, have anti-D.

The Anti-D program

The programs relies on donors who already have anti-D, but Red Cross Lifeblood can also stimulate development of anti-D in specially selected donors who initially do not have it. 
If you are a male or a female past child-bearing years, you may be eligible to join the Anti-D program.