The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Audiobook [Free Download by Trial]

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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Summary

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Audiobook by Rebecca Skloot is a non-fiction book which won the National Academies Communication Award. Henrietta Lacks is a unique medical specimen. It is widely accepted that no dead women have done more for the living beings. She died in 1951 aged only 31 in John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She was a lively woman who was adored by her family. She died in severe intractable pain. The autopsy revealed that her body had many tumors.

During the end, she was only being given palliative treatment, but still, her family felt that she can be cured and will survive. When she passed, she had left behind a husband and five children in her family. One of her greatest contributions to mankind was a tissue she left behind which was excised from her cervical cancer which was her primary tumor. This tissue was used later to culture her cells.

In the years after Henrietta's death, her cell line known as HeLa emerged as an important research tool. These cells helped in medical discoveries of various important breakthroughs like the Polio vaccine and AIDS treatment. The woman whose cells were used for such important discoveries remains mostly unknown to the world. Her family did not know about the use of her cells until 20 years after her death when the scientist began using her husband and children without their informed consent. Her family did not benefit financially from such research activities on her cells.

The author describes the devastating result of Henrietta's death on her husband and children and the importance of the medical research from her cells. The story also plots the early life of Henrietta Lacks and her life.

Review

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Audiobook by Rebecca Skloot is an incredible book. The author maps the life of Henrietta and the impact of her death on her family in a beautiful manner. Skloot takes the readers on a remarkable journey from Henrietta's family to the John Hopkins Hospital to the medical laboratories.

The author has put together a very intimate story on the life of Henrietta Lacks. The story is touching and explores the various dark aspects of human nature. The book is a recommended read and readers will enjoy reading it.