Read it: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

As odd as this may sound, reading this book during my stay in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer is crucial to how I view and interact with the world at this time.  So while you, the reader(s) of my blog may find it odd that I am taking a moment away from blogs about Burkina Faso and the culture, my work, and life here, I find it fitting and so very connected.  For if you do not know me and how I view the world, it is difficult to understand the lens I use to interpret and navigate God’s creation.

First things first, READ THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS.  It is the true story of the woman whose cells (HeLa) that are used by scientist world-wide in research and creation of various vaccines, such as for polio and HPV, and various studies on different types of cancer and also HIV/Aids.  It is fascinating to know that this African American woman from Clover, Virginia has contributed so much to science.  The catch is it was without her knowledge, nor the knowledge of her family.  She was treated in the early 50’s for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.  Hopkins is recognized as one of the leading institutions of medical research and study. (side note: I know a guy who told me he was hoping to get a scholarship, and did, to Hopkins after his Peace Corps service, and immediately, in my mind he was placed into a category that I consider highly respected and astute.  He was already on my list of “interesting people” since he finished his Peace Corps service in my village.  You gotta be a tough cookie to do that ::wink:: :-)).  Before Henrietta was treated with radiation for her cervical cancer, her doctor took a biopsy of the cancerous tissue on her cervix and also her normally growing tissue.  At the time, doctors and researchers were trying desperately, but always failing at keeping cell cultures alive.  Hers (the cancerous ones) not only stayed alive, but 60 some years later continue to multiply and reproduce.  This story however, is not just about cells that scientist have studied for the past few decades, it is the story of her, her family, and their struggle to understand what happened to their loved one.  Her legacy was carried through her 5 children, who struggled through life being motherless at a young age becoming victims of abuse, poverty, and unfortunately not ever being able to take advantage of the healthcare their mother’s cells helped to create.  It is a story of the struggle of Black Americans, women, poverty, and family.  Everyone must read it!

The story touches home for me for many different reasons, including my passage through life as a young woman understanding the world without the guidance of my beloved mother and friend, Sharon Magenta Simmons Johnson.  (Simmons is her maiden name).  While my situation was different because I was 23 when my mother passed away and the children of Henrietta was very young, her youngest was but a few months old.  The idea of my mother dealing with health complications that led to an early demise coincides with the story of this family.  Thankfully, I am not a victim of abuse, however, I know that it is real and effects people in astounding ways and I have witnessed its effects in persons I know very well.  The most touching of all, is the immortality of Henrietta Lacks.  She lives forever because her cells continue to live and will likely never die.  Her cells can wrap around the world 2 times by now and take over cell cultures that it encounters, its air born and ever-present.  My mother does not have some scientific connection to the world to my knowledge at this time, but I hope that her spirit infectiously lives through everything I do, all the places I go, and no matter where I am in the world, people feel, see, hear, and believe in all the best parts of who Sharon Johnson was and is.  My mother was born on October 31, 1952 and died September 27, 2007.  Much like Deborah, the daughter of Henrietta Lacks, I want to whole world to know my mother and what she means to me.  Like I said earlier, if you do not know me, then it is impossible for you to understand how I interpret and interact with the world that surrounds me.  So I am taking the time now to make a tribute to Henrietta Lacks, the foundation that was created to help educate her living offspring, and to my own Immortal mother, Sharon Johnson.  Maybe one day I too will write a book about her life, her love, and her struggles. 

Dear Mommy,

Thank you for all you have done in my life.  Thank you for allowing me to explore myself as a person spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.  You hand wrote and drew “My Baby’s First Book”, making sure that all words and illustrations reflected my loved ones and surroundings.  I will never forget hours of you helping me learn to read.  Even though you insisted that there was nothing wrong with me and you knew that I would get it…”Just sound it out” is what you would say.  Haha…it wasn’t until I went to college, after maintaining great grades in high school, and studying hard, that I was finally diagnosed with a reading disability.  But through your hard work and effort, and our tireless word games like scrabble, boggle, crossword puzzles, and word searches, on top of summers filled with math and reading assignments before play time, most people including myself would have never known that I struggled in that area.  But college was a new bird!  3 or 4 professors expected at least 100 pages read by the next class was overwhelming!  I was in over my head trying to read almost 400 pages for different classes.  I later found out that most of my classmates were not reading all of it either…just enough to discuss in class and reading the articles that interested them the most, but how was I supposed to know that?!   Haha…but even then, you told me not to be discouraged.  “Aisha, you went to the classes one at a time, so do the work one assignment at a time.”  Such simple, yet ingenious wisdom like this is what encourages me to continue to push for higher heights and also push other young people along.  My students used to think I was hard on them.  “Man, Ms. Johnson, I don’t have homework for any other teacher ever night, but yours!”  The funny thing is, those same students who had behavior problems, and low achievement in other classes made it through my class and later respected me for being so hard on them.  That was your doing...your immortality.  You believed that circumstances didn’t make the people and they had the ability to push through, so why not try.  On behalf of my students, “thanks Momma J”. 

And Lord did you know how to be a cheerleader!  You embarrassed the heck out of me all the time!  It didn’t matter what I did, you told the world like it was the most awesome thing you had ever seen.  “Aisha got honor roll,” and “did I show you the choir tape of my children singing?”  Most of the time I didn’t even know who the people were who knew me or about me but, I was one of “Sharon’s kids” so I was subject to being known by every person you encountered.  I still have letters you wrote, pictures you drew, and most importantly, special memories of you.  I used to have your voice on a digital recorder, but that was somehow lost.  Guess what, I’m going to get you back and tell everyone I come in contact with about you, Mommy!   I love you dearly, and hope that I continue to make you proud through everything I do.  May your spirit live on and you rest in peace.

Love Always,

Esha-Mesha