The HeLa cells were the first immortal human cell line and derives its name from Henrietta Lacks. Her cervical tumour cells were found to double every 24 hours instead of dying. HeLa cells are used as a substitute for live human subjects and were notably used to study Polio, AIDS and COVID 19.

I remember hearing about her story. I don’t remember the details but didn’t they basically steal her DNA without informing or asking for consent from her family once she passed? Regardless, I think it’s beautiful that her memory lives on by healing others.

I read the book (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) as soon as it came out in February 2010. It was four months after I’d been diagnosed with ALL (a type of leukaemia) at 14 and I was obsessed with reading into pretty much anything associated with cancer.

None of that is relevant to this post at all, but I look back on that time now from the perspective of someone who overcame a cancer that was basically a death sentence just a few years previously, and that’s because of brilliant and brave and brainy people. Sometimes, though, it takes more than just those things and that’s where people like Henrietta* came in. She deserved the world.

Ps. If you’re also interested in that type of thing, The Emperor of All Maladies is a brilliant read.

*totally different type of cancer to mine but you get the sentiment!