Who else has heard of Hennrietta Lacks? / myLot

Holiday, Florida

March 7, 2011 5:25pm CST

I was just on one of my favorite websites called read it forward that gives away books if you enter their contests. any way, i saw a book on there that im just going to have to read or preferably listen to on audio.

Its called the Immortal Life of Hennrietta Lacks. when i saw it on there, it caught my attention. i love reading true stories. So, i did a search and came up with some very interesting info on this fantastic miraculous woman. and yet i'd never heard of her. her genes/cells have been a great help to science and curing so much illness. its unbelievable, but then as i always say, maybe i just live under a rock and everyone has heard of her but me before

i thought it was so interesting. the woman should have been given a medal instead of living the sad life she lived

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks this link is some of what i was reading about her. NOT A REFERRAL link. what do you think? have you heard about her?

7 people like this

13 responses

Patsie Hatley

@Hatley (163776)

• Garden Grove, California

8 Mar 11

hi bunnybon I had never heard of her b ut from what I read in wikipedia I am also fascinated and will try and find a copy of that book in a nearby library.This is really interesting and fascinating as its a real life story. My she had a rough life and so sad too but perhaps she has helped many people which does give her some immortality. I have heard of read it forward and will have to see if I would like to join. thanks for the information.

I wonder if anyone has thought of making that into a movie.it cou ld be a really great movie.

1 person likes this

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

i thought of that to. I can think of so many great black actresses could do it. yes, its free to join read it forward. i think catdla told me about it. lovely friend that one.

1 person likes this

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

ps, havent won a book yet but it dont cost anything and it does let us know about some good reads out there.

Amber

@AmbiePam (93898)

• United States

7 Mar 11

Yes, I remember when that book first came out and I read so many reviews of it (but until the book I had not heard of her either). What a compelling story. All the reviews were good, and I wanted to read the book. But just reading the synopsis made me angry. Angry on behalf of her family. And right now in my life I don't want to read anything that will fire me up, but still I can't do anything about it. So I've decided to wait, and hopefully someday when it comes out in paperback and it is cheaper, I'll give it a read. I definitely plan to read it someday.

1 person likes this

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

i know. and i probably shouldnt read somethings going to make me cry but cant help wanting to know more. it is quite sad.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (93898)

• United States

10 Mar 11

This screams big time movie.

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (160952)

• United States

8 Mar 11

I had recently heard some of this, but I had not remembered the name, only the story. I think someone must have been discussing the book on televisions. It is amazing what a contribution has been made by her cells.

1 person likes this

science and medicine

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

and she wasnt even asked, much less held in high esteme and gratitude

for it.

1 person likes this

bhanusb

@bhanusb (5709)

• India

8 Mar 11

Hi bunny, there are many unsung heroes. She may be one of them. Today is world Women Day. In a right time you focused on a extraordinary woman. This will encourage the whole women community. Thanks for giving the link.

1 person likes this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

theres that cave/rock i live in again. before i did this i didnt even realize it was www.

im always happy to read about good women though.

1 person likes this

jazel_juan

@jazel_juan (15746)

• Philippines

8 Mar 11

Hennrietta who? honestly i do not know her bunny but thank you for the information and i might look for her book.. i have been wanting to read some good book lately

1 person likes this

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

me to. i always love these true stories. especially about women. didnt even realize i was doing this on womens special day

1 person likes this

hardworkinggurl

@hardworkinggurl (37063)

• United States

7 Mar 11

I have not heard of Hennrietta until I read your discussion, but I am reading the link and find that she was quite fascinating. I am all for amazing people like she was so I will be reading all about her. Thanks for sharing.

1 person likes this

woman

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

i do hope i can get the book on amazon pretty cheap, but if not i'll likely wait and see if it gets on audio.

1 person likes this

Gabs

@gabs8513 (48686)

• United Kingdom

15 Mar 11

Wow I have to be honest I have never heard of her That is so sad but I guess in those Days they where not as advanced as they are now But that is really sad

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

16 Mar 11

yes its a shame that nothing is taught about her in history. i mean here in the US, we know all about our famous presidents, etc. but never hear about someone like this that contributed so much even without knowing it

pergammano

@pergammano (7682)

• Canada

8 Mar 11

Oh, bunnybon, thank you for sharing, and now another book to add to my endless reading list that I never get around to! The only time, that I take time to read, is on the Ferry trip, going to the City. It is an hour and 1/2 ride...so that's my reading time, but I go to town so seldom, it takes me forever with a book, and I usually have to back-read, to bring me back up to speed! I am ashamed to admit, that most of my down-time is spent watching T.V. (I used to be a vociferous reader) as watching T.V. I can accomplish other things, too...like knitting, sewing, stripping furniture...usually am doing something else, when the "tube" is on! I keep promising myself, this is the year, that I am going to have more "downtime" and relax, and read...I love reading..but, I guilt myself about doing nothing! It's on my list. Take care...and Cheers!

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

iam guilty of the same thing. im still catching up with books ive collected over the yrs. when i was working.

the very reason i love books on audio.

1 person likes this

dragon54u

@dragon54u (31634)

• United States

8 Mar 11

I saw that Law and Order episode and I think the real Lacks family should have some compensation for the theft of Henrietta's cells. This is just outrageous! That people could harvest cells and experiment on a little girl like Elsie without anyone knowing is monstrous. They got away with it because the family was black. I think the family should sue, just as they did on the TV show. This does not inspire me, it makes me furious.

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

yes they should sue. because others got rich on her cells and now i bet her family isnt even much better off.

JenInTN

@JenInTN (27514)

• United States

8 Mar 11

Wow..that is very interesting! I have never heard of her either! I wish I had because I would have had a million questions about her in my previous class...it was biology. I am going to research her a bit more. What an intriguing story! Thanks!

bonnie

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11

to bad i didnt find out about her sooner, huh? yes its unbelievable what some have done and never get credit they deserve, much less compensation.

Graptopetalum

@Graptopetalum (1807)

• Canada

8 Mar 11

I heard of HELA cells when I was at University studying Biochemistry and Genetics. However, I'm fairly sure the lecturer said that they were from a woman called Helen Lang. I saw a television show about HELA cells a while back. Apparently they have a tendency to invade other cell cultures, actually complicating some cancer research because people were working on HELA cells when they thought it was something else. The scientist who found this out, had his career destroyed by an underhanded trick. I'm not sure if this problem was ever really resolved.

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

10 Mar 11