Back in February I taught a class at DePauw University. And as part of my "thank you," one of my former professors and mentors sent me this book. I love people that take initiative to send books. It's such a fun and personal gift.
The Immortal Life... is what happens when a curious science student learns about HeLa cells and decides to research. What Rebecca Skloot finds out could be the plot of a fiction novel. But instead, is every bit true. In the 1950's, Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman died of cervical cancer. Doctors helped themselves to her cells for experimental purposes. What they found was that her cells were unlike any they had experienced before. They not only survived in the lab, they thrived.
They called them HeLa cells and their amazing sustainability gave scientists around the world the opportunity to test cures for all sorts of diseases, starting with polio. Henrietta's family had no idea any of this was happening. They didn't know why or how their mother died nor that doctors stole her cells. They lived in poverty barely being able to afford health insurance while their mother's cells were being mass reproduced and shipped across the world to solve the most complex scientific mysteries.
So Skloot starts to unravel the details to this strange but true tale and eventually earns the trust of the Lacks family. As she works with them to learn about the mother and wife Henrietta was, she explains to them what's been going on with her cells over the past decades. Their emotions range from anger, pride, resentment and paranoia.
This is Henrietta's story. Of her life. Her family. Her cells.
You'll love it.
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