I'm the Guest Blogger over at The Mom Egg. If you feel like it, click here and leave a comment! For reasons I don't know, the link appears as broken for some. If that happens and you're just dying to go over to, actually, a really wonderful literary website, here's the actual address: http://www.themomegg.com. You can then click on the upper right hand corner where it says blog.
I'm reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks". It was from Henrietta that the immortal HeLa cell came in 1951. My physician niece recommended it as a sort of companion book to "The Help" which takes place in the early 1960s and is about black women who "served" white women as housekeepers in Jackson, Miss. But, I digress. Henrietta had a beautiful daughter who was diagnosed with epilepsy. The child was not able to communicate. She was institutionalized with the diagnosis of "idiot". I'm only half way through but am appalled at the treatment of African Americans by the medical society. It's something that we hear very little about. The book is written in a non-clinical style and I can hardly put it down. Henrietta's cells are still alive today and are instrumental in the research and treating of cancer, AIDs, and so many other diseases. It was the HeLa cell that led to the prevention of polio, etc. Her cells were harvested without her knowledge and consent and, even though much money has been made, her family received nothing. Her cells were the first to be "immortal".
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Every time I have clicked throughout the day, I've gotten an error message.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I'll look forward to hearing what you think about the book. And, I'd stick with peanut butter toast instead of the omelet!!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie