Doctors took her cells without asking.
Those cells never died.
They launched a medical revolutionand a multimillion-dollar industrу.
More than twenty years later, her children found out.
Their lives would never be the same.
1️⃣ Who is Henrietta Lacks?
Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman born in the United States. Dying in 1951 due to cervical cancer, her cells were the source of one of the most essential cell lines still used today (for over 70 years).
"She looks straight into the camera and smiles,hands on hips, dress suit neatly pressed, lips painted deep red."
"She's a black woman."
"I wish I could tell you, but no one knows anything about her."
"[The cells] came from a live woman. We never thought about it that way."
2️⃣ What are HeLa Cells?
HeLa (short for Henrietta Lacks) have been used in medical research for over 70 years. They made crucial contributions to the development of polio vaccines, cancer treatment, gene mapping and even space exploration!
"Henrietta’s cells went up in the second satellite ever in orbit, which waslaunched by the Russian space program in 1960, and almost immediatelyafterward, NASA shot several vials of HeLa into space in the Discoverer XVIIIsatellite."
3️⃣ The Ethical Dilemma
- Henrietta’s cells were taken without her knowledge or consent - Henrietta, and also other minority groups at that time, were not given equal healthcare as the majority were given.
This book highlights the long history of racial disparities in healthcare, questioning how we should balance medical research with ethical responsibility.
4️⃣ The Lacks' Family's Struggle
This book tells the story of Henrietta’s family, particularly her daughter Deborah, who struggles to understand what happened to her mother and what it means for her health and identity.
"[Deborah] turn[ed] out to be one of the strongestand most resilient women I’d ever known. We’d form a deep personal bond, andslowly, without realizing it, I’d become a character in her story, and she in mine." -- Rebecca Skloot
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💡 Final Thoughts
Henrietta Lacks' legacy reminds us of the power of knowledge, the importance of ethical medical practices, and the heartbreaking stories behind seemingly remarkable scientific breakthroughs.
👇🏻 If you still haven't read this book, check it out now!
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