Tribute to Henrietta Lacks: The Hero in the Laboratory

 

They even changed your name, first to Helen Lane,
then to Helen Larsen, finally to Henrietta Lacks.
After they harvested your cells.

The strangest form of life a cell could have,
that’s what they said. And you said go ahead and use them,
“if it’ll help somebody.”

Now there’s a vaccine against the HPV-18 that did you in,
grown and tested in your HeLa cells. Salk vaccine,
you’ve heard of that, HeLa made that possible,
and more and more cures, all because of you.

Most cells and samples are fit only for the garbage can,
but you, you had the ones that no one else had. The cells that
made the research possible. The cells that
made pharmaceutical companies rich.

Everyone in big pharma knew your name, yet when you needed help,
you were a charity patient. You never made a dime off of Hela,
your kin inherited nothing. Seems like you ought to get something
for the billions made off your cells.

Whenever I stand in line to get a shot, I think of you.
Perhaps one day a vaccine for COVID-19 will be developed
using your HeLa cells. Then I will say your name
and wish there was a way to thank you.

 

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Henrietta Lacks, born Loretta Pleasant, was a Black woman whose cells, dubbed HeLa cells, have been used for decades to test and develop a vast array of modern drugs and vaccines. Obtained from Henrietta without clear, informed consent, these cells continue to be used in research to this day. No other cells grow so fast and function like the cancer cells called HeLa. A court ruling determined that a deceased patient may not claim ownership over her cells or tissues. This eliminated any chance Henrietta’s heirs could receive compensation for her contribution to pharmaceutical research.

Jill Jennings, a retired teacher and journalist, is the author of three poetry books: The Poetry Alarm Clock (2008), Dead Man’s Flower (2012), and Pineapple Wine: Poems of Maui (2019). Her poems have been published in The Atlanta Review, Oberon Poetry Magazine, Calamaro, Reach of Song (Georgia Poetry Society), Encore (The National Federation of State Poetry Societies), andPoetry of the Golden Generation (Kennesaw State University). Her work has been featured on Kinver Radio in the UK. Originally from Georgia, she lives with her husband in in Fort Myers, Florida.