The immortal cells

Henrietta's cells were sold to scientist all over the country. These sells were placed in a lab and if the scientists needed more they could just order it. These cells made millions of dollars. 

The Lacks family did not make any money off of Henrietta's cells. They did not find out about Henrietta's cells and the HeLa study until 1973. 

The Death of Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks died on October 4,2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. When she died her doctor at John Hopkins ,named George Gey, asked David to sign for him to do an autopsy of Henrietta's body. David signed the papers not knowing what he was signing for. When Dr. Gey had the autopsy done he retrieved the rest of her tumor cells. When he got the cells he cut the tumor in to smaller pieces and put them in test tubes to be sold. 

The doctor visit

When Henrietta went to John Hopkins Hospital to have a better doctor look at the "knot" on her cervix. While the doctor was examining her he took a sample of her tumor without her consent. Her cells were sent to lab to have test done. While the cells were in the lab the scientist found out that have discovered the first cells that can live outside the body. 

Her tumor was cut up in little pieces and placed in test tubes to be distributed to scientist all over the country. These cells were used to help create vaccines and cures for different diseases. The cells were named HeLa which is short for Henrietta Lacks. When these cells came in contact with cells from another disease they would take over.   

More about Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks is the daughter of a tobacco farmer from Roanoke ,Virginia. Her mother died when she was little and left her father with five children. When her mother died her father took her and her nine siblings back to his home town of Clover ,Virginia. When they got to Clover her father couldn't find anyone to take all ten kids so they were separated among family members. 

Henrietta was put with her Grandfather. She grew up with her cousin David who is also known as Day. Henrietta and Day grew up sharing a room. They ended up having their first child together when Henrietta was only fourteen years old. they named him Laurence. Henrietta and Day would end up being the parents of five children. 

Introduction to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is written by Rebecca Skloot. Henrietta Lacks is known for her cancer cells being harvested. Her cells were used for  cancer research. Henrietta Lacks cells were taken with out her permission. 

These cells were the first cells to continue to reproduce. They have been used to test many different diseases. One of these diseases was polio and because of these cells there is now a polio vaccine.