Awww…Monday

49 comments

 

Hi everyone. We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays .

Dusty is posing with an excellent book that I just finished reading.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot came out in 2010, but I only recently learned about the book and Henrietta’s amazing contribution to medicine. She was a poor black woman that passed away at the age of 31 in 1951 from cervical cancer, but her cells (called HeLa cells) are still alive today. Back then, a lot of unethical things were done and one was taking her cancer cells without permission. For some unknown reason, they kept dividing and still do today. Most cells divide for a while then die, but these never die. Her cells were used to make the polio vaccine and many other medical advances. Sadly, her family never earned a dime from this. She had 5 children, one was sickly and died soon after she passed. The other 4 were adults when interviewed for this book which took 10 years of researching and interviewing to write. They didn’t even have health insurance and all had multiple health issues. A sad story, but fascinating.

Have any of you ever heard of these cells? Just wondering how I had never heard of these before. I did not take a science class in college and in high school Biology and Anatomy, I was too worried about finding a lab partner willing to do all the cutting that I may have missed the lesson.

Penny will be here tomorrow with her money saving tips.

49 comments

  2. Cute picture of Dusty! Sounds like a fascinating, though very sad, book. I’ve not heard of the story of the people, or of the cells before. XO

  3. That is a new thing for me, too, and having had female cancer myself, and dealing with specialists and even being a nurse…nope, have not heard of this at all. Such sadness and I hope her family is now vindicated by this book.

  4. Mama is looking into this. Thank you for enlightening us so often with the wonderful info you get from your vast store of great books! Always stimulating and we hope that her family has benefitted from this in some way.

  6. It’s good that someone told the story of Mrs. Lacks. Her story, and the ones of many like her who contributed much to medical advances we all benefit from today ~ these mostly have been lost in time. Yet we can be thankful for these unsung heroes and their invaluable gifts to us.

    1. The author really spent a lot of time working on the book to get the true story out. XO

  7. That’s interesting. I’m grateful for discoveries science makes but I don’t like it when they go about it unethically. That’s too bad the young woman’s family didn’t receive any monetary compensation. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book. 😉

  10. Dusty makes a cute model, and I’ve not heard of this. How sad the family never received any compensation.

  11. A very sad story, but look at all the good that came of it. Thank you for sharing this great read.

    Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. A big hug to mom and lots of scritches to all the kitties. ♥

  14. Charlee: “Our Dada says he is familiar with this story! He has heard about it on a few of the science podcasts he listens to and has also seen at least one article about her on Ars Technica, a science website he visits every day.”
    Chaplin: “We think our Dada may be a nerd …”

  16. Dusty looks good with a book!
    Think I saw a documentary about HeLa cells years ago, and have always hoped that the family was finally recompensed in some way.
    When folks say ‘that was the old way we did things’ don’t understand that there is a lot of marginalization of poor folk that continues today.
    Don’t get me started on how our government still treats our Indigenous Peoples; was at a recent lecture and was heartsick and appalled.
    My recent trip to British Columbia showed me how the Canadians embrace the First Nations respectfully, including totem poles in the city center which I thought was terrific.

    1. Thank you. 🙂 Not compensated, but at least their mother was recognized with a statue and credit. It is sad how so many have been treated and still are. XO

  17. Dusty recommends a good book. I haven’t read it yet, but I do know that story about the cancer cells that keep dividing eternally, and how the family got nothing from it. Quite sad.

  19. Whoa…sounds like a very fascinating read. Thanks for the recommendation! Happy Monday.

  20. I did have that book and started reading but never finished to see how it ended. Now I wish I had as it still sounds interesting. 🙂

  22. Dusty is precious and I wish there was a way to get the medical community to compensate her family.

  25. Lookin guud there Dusty!
    Aunty Ellen ternss out BellaSita nsoe bour HeLa Cells….shee did not nose they are still vyabell an active!! Miss Henrietta livss on fre sure!
    **nose kissess** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum

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