If you haven't been a strong student before today, after reading the biography entitled, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, you will be after reading this book. This was the first book from Rebecca and it was a job well done. I look forward to more of her work in the future.
I have never been interested in science because I didn't understand it. However, once you put a personal story behind it, everything comes to life. Rebecca first became interested in the story of Henrietta Lacks in high school after being kicked out of school and required to attend alternative classes, meeting in the community college.
One day in science class while learning about cells, the teacher briefly mentioned that the source of the Hela cells were from a black woman named Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca inquired with the teacher about the story behind the woman. He did not know. Something in Rebecca stayed over the years and she made it her passion to find out the story.
Henrietta was deceased, but Rebecca met her daughter and spent all her her resources finding out the complete story. In the course of the journey, she covered issues regarding science, medicine, treatment of the mentally ill, the law and the lives of people who make it all come to life.
Henrietta's family was made of simple people who did not have opportunity and were treated unfairly by the medical field. The case caused thought provoking legal issues that were debated in court over the years by many people and eventually ruled in the favor of science.
This book makes me want to be an advocate for those who have no voice in any walk of life. It should become required reading for related college courses. Students need to be taught that there is a life behind every story, medical file or court case.
I won't give away the story, but it was very inspiring. I was on the edge of my seat on every page. If school had been this interesting, I would have paid attention and learned something. In reading about the life of Henrietta's daughter, Deborah, I felt like I got to see into the soul of every person behind a story. It reminds me to be grateful for what I have and extend a hand to those who need to know that someone cares. It took a great amount of courage for her to let the author and the reader into her life. That kind of courage can change the world.
Author, Laura Schroeder, has experienced life change first hand. She went from being a single mom on welfare, to returning to college years later, to becoming a parole officer. She dedicates her time to ministering to residents at her local rescue mission. To contact Laura, email at laura@lauramschroeder.com.
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