NOTE: This blog entry first appeared in February 2010
by Geoffrey Redick, producer
I met Rebecca Skloot almost a year ago. It didn’t take long before she was telling me this incredible story about immortal cells growing in laboratories, the woman they came from, how she died, and the family members she left behind. She said it was all in a book she was writing, but she didn’t talk about Henrietta Lacks in a cold, repertorial way. It was clear from the first moment how energized she was by the story. And I knew right away that she had to talk to Bob.
Skloot spent more than 10 years on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. She interviewed dozens of medical researchers and relatives of Lacks, and the result is a fascinating and fast read — biography, medical ethics, racial politics — that pays homage to someone who unknowingly made one of the most important contributions to science, and who has largely been lost to history.
Skloot is also doing some good for the descendents of Henrietta Lacks, with a foundation that will provide college scholarships.
As I listened to the interview, I became totally intrigued with the author’s overview of her book’s true story ….I also found myself thinking "What – NEXT"….. literally! I’m actually in the middle of Michael Crichton’s clever tale of genetics, cells, and researchers in his book titled Next. In his fiction, patients also find themselves feeling victimized by doctors who’ve found value in biological matter taken from them. Scientist and researchers have no intent on compensating or even making the patient aware of their substantial contribution to the advances made because of them….. Skloots’ true life account has peaked my interest in the way one could or should view the subjects of "concentual – given – or taken"? Her book will surely soon find a spot on my bookshelf. Great program, the interview was impressive.
Ventura County California
I heard the rebroadcast of the interview with Rebecca Skloot after work as I was driving to my bookclub meeting … I was so excited about the book, THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, that I recommended it to our group. As a happy coincidence, our newest member is a retired geneticist who has worked with the helocells … I’m so looking forward to reading the book and learning more about Henrietta Lacks, her life, and her legacy. Thank you for this great interview!