The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Reading Guide by Sauceda, Tristen

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:12:06 UTC

Henritta Lacks Herself

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:14:12 UTC

Henritta & Husband/ Cousin

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:16:56 UTC

Segregation in Hospitals

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:22:21 UTC

Only some hospitals at the time would treat African Americans and if they did they would put them in the colored ward where often they would be multiple people per room very close together which can lead to diseases spreading. Whites thought that African Americans carried all types of diseases so this close proximity of germs didn't help the rumor because they all kept getting sick.

Average 1960 White Family Home

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:26:00 UTC

Henritta's Home

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:28:10 UTC

In this home she was raised, and she also gave birth to all of her kids on the hallway floor as well as raised them there.

History of Cancer Screening (Pap Test)

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:36:09 UTC

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:39:23 UTC

According to some sources, doctors in the 60s were trying to make cells immortal because they thought that human cells would keep dividing forever if given the right conditions. They wanted to use these cells for medical research and testing.

Did Doctors Need Consent for Cell Research?

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:43:41 UTC

Doctors in the 1960's, didn't need to ask a patient's consent to take cells from their body without their knowledge for research which is how Henritta's cells fell into Dr.Gey's (pronounced Guy) hands.

How the Cells Work

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 18:59:20 UTC

Henritta Lacks (HeLa cells) Dividing

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 19:00:54 UTC

An amazing live video of HeLa cells dividing. This video is actually mind blowing once you think about how its happening right now billions and billions of times in your body.

Henritta Signing Operation Form

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 19:06:18 UTC

The Scientist who saw HeLa Cells divide for the first time

tristensauceda — 2024-02-26 19:07:46 UTC

A Colored Doctors Office in the 1960's

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:00:35 UTC

Regular Hospital for White Only

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:02:35 UTC

Deborah, Henrietta's Daughter

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:03:32 UTC

Health Disparities in the Black Community: Past & Present

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:14:24 UTC

This video is amazing and also talks about the HeLa cells and how it was unfair they were taken from her. She talks about the problems in the past with healthcare for the black community and how the problems back then are some of the same problems that are still happening today.

The Lacks Family Today

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:21:00 UTC

Deborah Lacks Quest For Answers

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:24:27 UTC

Deborah Lacks is Henritta's daughter that has been through it all with these cells. Reporters, press, people who just want answers, scientists, the government, etc. Have all taken advantage of the Lacks Family and given them no compensation.

Henritta Lacks Death Cerificate

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:26:40 UTC

Cause of death was Uremia which is a toxin built up in the blood that usually is emptied by urinating but Henritta had a baseball sized tumor blocking her from going to the bathroom.

How Much was HeLa Sold For?

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:31:59 UTC

HeLa Cells are sold for about $200- $10,000 a vial. This means that HeLa Cells are a multibillion-dollar company that the family of who they came from hasn't been able to get any money from. Not even money, one of Henritta's children is $100,000 in debt after a bypass surgery and they don't get any health insurance, any money, or any recognition.

Statue in memory of Henritta

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:37:44 UTC

Finally getting what they deserve

tristensauceda — 2024-02-27 18:41:24 UTC

The Lacks finally get compensated after decades of waiting. In Summer of 2023, the Lacks got some money for the infamous HeLa Cells that were taken without consent. The settlement has been kept confidential.

Henritta tries treatment/ Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-28 18:50:32 UTC

After Henritta's first Radium treatment at John Hopkins Hospital the doctor wrote, "30 year old colored female lying quietly in no evident distress." and "Patient feels quite well tonight. Morale is good and she's ready to go home." (Page 40)

Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-28 18:53:40 UTC

"But Henrietta's cells weren't merely surviving, they were growing with mythological intensity... They kept growing like nothing anyone had seen, doubling their numbers every twenty-four hours, stacking on hundreds on top of hundreds, accumulating by the millions." (Page 40-41)

Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:09:08 UTC

"One afternoon, as Henrietta lay on the couch, she lifted her shirt to show Margaret and Sadie what the treatments had done to her. Sadie Gasped: The skin from Henrietta's breast to her pelvis was charred a deep black from the radiation. The rest of her body was its natural shade- more the color fawn than coal." (48)

Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:16:39 UTC

"This was 1951 in Baltimore, segregation was law, and it was understood that black people didn't question white people's professional judgement. Many black patients were just glad to be getting treatment, since discrimination in hospitals was widespread." (64) This quote is showing how white doctors thought it was okay to withhold information about complicated diseases and patient condition as not to frighten or confuse the patient or their family.

Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:25:42 UTC

"George (George Gey, the scientist who wanted to grow immortal cells) told me he leaned over Henrietta's bed and said, 'Your cells will make you immortal.' He told Henrietta her cells would save the lives of countless people, and she smiled. She told him she was glad her pain would come to some good for someone." (66) This was right before Henrietta passed. This conversation between Gey and Henrietta is supposably the only time he had talked to her and also the last time due to her passing later that night.

Quote

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:37:35 UTC

"The way Day remembers it, someone from Hopkins called to tell him Henrietta had died, and to ask for permission for an autopsy, and Day said no. A few hours later, when Day went to Hopkins with a cousin to see Henrietta's body and sign some papers, the doctors asked again about the autopsy. They said they wanted to run tests that might help his children someday. Day's cousin said it wouldn't hurt, so eventually Day agreed and signed an autopsy permission form." (90) If Day hadn't said yes to the autopsy the whole world would be different and less advanced. This moment was one that was supposed to happen even if it caused bad things later for the family.

Question

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:40:15 UTC

Even if the law at the time was you must need consent to take cells for research purposes and cannot take it without consent, do you think because Henrietta was black that they would've taken the cells anyways? I think they would.

Question

tristensauceda — 2024-02-29 15:41:28 UTC

If segregation wasn't an issue when Henrietta was around, do you think she could've gotten better and survived? Maybe a treatment now would help and save her life.