The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

It is June 1951, and Henrietta repeatedly tells her doctor that the cancer has spread, and she is in a lot of pain. Her doctor dismisses her comments and tells her to return for her next check-up. Her gynecologist, Howard Jones, tells Skloot many decades later that Henrietta’s care was equal to that of any white patient, though Skloot cites research which shows that the treatment of black patients was often delayed until later stages of the illness.

By August, Henrietta is in agony and tests confirm that the cancer has spread aggressively throughout her whole body. She is hospitalized and doctors try, unsuccessfully, to ease her pain.

It’s 1999, and Skloot has driven to Baltimore to meet one of Henrietta’s sons, David Jr., who is known as Sonny. However, Sonny changes his mind and does not turn up, so Skloot takes herself on a trip to Turner Station, where Henrietta spent most of her adult life. The town is now in decline, with a population of only 1,000.

Skloot meets Courtney Speed, owner of Speed’s Grocery and the driving force behind a foundation to create a Henrietta Lacks museum. Courtney is initially suspicious of Skloot’s intentions and worries that she may be connected to someone called Mr.