Tidal Basin Review, Summer 2010

Page 65

IMMORTAL CELLS

Hannah Larrabee

Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer, died in 1951of cervical cancer at age 30. Her harvested cancer cells became known as ―HeLa‖ super cells, and they are used in scientific experiments even today. Could it be the tobacco of old days? Her cells survive, stubborn white knuckles refusing to be buried. She had walked through the heavy green leaves hanging by stems in barns - that smell. What kind of heaven did god invent for you, Henrietta? And you are still you aren‘t you, or the tumor that was you, or not quite, but the tumor that took the you out of your own mouth? No. I think you are far away from this place, though the journey has been unbearably slow. LARRABEE ∫ 65


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Tidal Basin Review, Summer 2010 by Tidal Basin Review - Issuu