Rethinking Our History

Episode 3: Henrietta Lacks

August 26, 2024 Felicia and Ian Lindsey Season 1 Episode 3

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This week on ROH we look at the life and legacy of a woman, who never knew what was done to her. 

After giving birth to her 4th child Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. While undergoing treatment samples were taken of her cells, without her consent. Henrietta would never know how far and wide her cells would end up going. She would never know about the millions of lives she has helped saved since her death. 

Henrietta will never know that she lives on in immortality in the HeLa immortal cell line, which was the first ever immortal cell line. 

And it took years for her family to learn the truth either. We all owe our lives to Henrietta, and I hope this episode helps shed light on what she did for all of us. 
Episode 3 Source Notes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks