My name is Sonny Lacks. I am the second son of Henrietta Lacks and I have other four siblings(one dead). My dad and my mom were cousins and were raised by Tommy Lacks. I was raised first by Ethel and then by my big brother Lawrence. I joined Air Force and was discharged honorable. My mom died when I was four years old and I couldn't remember all the details about her cancer and funeral. However, the widespread of HeLa cells remind me all the time of who is my mom and what are HeLa cells. There are still many people talking about my mom and it is because people are arguing about whether or not it is wrong not giving credits for my mom when selling her cells.
There are a lot of arguments against giving people legal ownership of their tissues and one of them is from David Korn, vice provost of research at Harvard University. “I think people are morally obligated to allow their bits and pieces to be used to advance knowledge to help others. Since everybody benefits, everybody can accept the small risks of having their tissue scraps used in research.” I totally disagree with David Korn and I believe people deserve the rights to keep their cells or receive credits when cells are used.
First of all, it is not true that everybody is benefiting. My mom’s cells have been making a lot of money but I couldn't even afford a bypass surgery.My older brother Lawrence said once:”She ’s the most important person in the world and her family living in poverty”(Skloot 420). All the members in lacks family couldn't afford insurances. People from lacks town didn't prosper even it is the hometown of Henrietta Lacks. People barely know anything about HeLa cells in Lacks town. Therefore, it is not true that everybody benefits.
Second of all, taking tissue scraps is risky under certain situations. Dr.Geroge Gey asked doctors to take his tissue scraps out when he was diagnosed with cancer. However, the doctors found it difficult to take samples of cells from his organs because his organs might be damaged causing death. Therefore, taking tissue scraps isn't safe at all times.
Third of all, it is possible that doctors don't ask for consent to take tissues or doctors don't give credits to the originator of cells. This happened to my mom and it influenced my life. The doctors at John Hopkins hospital didn't have My father’s permission to keep HeLa cells. My mother’s name wasn't known even after HeLa cells were widespread. The actions of not crediting my mom upset me and my families. “John Hopkin didn't give us no information about anything. That was the bad part. Not the sad part,but the bad part, cause I don't know if they didn't give us information because they was making money out of it, or if they was just wanting to keep us in the dark about it. I think they made money out of it, cause they were selling her cells all over the world and shipping them for dollars”(Skloot 420).The reasons behind the poverty of the Lacks families are due to facts that Dr.Gey didn't tell Lacks families or anyone else about HeLa cells. There are other black families or white families like us whose tissues were taken without consent. Nuremberg code should be passed as a law to protect human rights.
In conclusion, these are the three reasons I disagree with people should be obligated to donate tissues.
Below are the tweets:
I am Sonny lacks.I didn't know anything about Hela cells until I received a call from Rebecca Skloot.#NHSHenrietta
My mom was diagnosed as Epidermoid Caecinoma.https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=46419 … #NHSHenrietta
My mom died at age of 31 and I can tell she was in a lot of pain both mentally and physically when she had treatments. #NHSHenrietta
After the death of mom, John Hopkins hospital performed something I didn't know. I know now her cells were taken after death. #NHSHenrietta
#NHSHenrietta My sister Deborah and I moved to my cousin's( whose name is Ethel) house. We live with her husband Galen also.
“Henrietta’s children grew up hungry. Every morning Ethel fed them each a cold biscuit that had to last them until dinner”(288)
#NHSHenrietta I wasn't treated well and I still remember that I was abused by Ethel. Ethel seemed to hate my mom.
#NHSHenrietta I noticed Deborah was sexually abused by Galen but we got help from my older brother Lawrence and his wife.
Lawrence and his wife took care of me and Deborah after they found out how bad we were treated. #NHSHenrietta
I seemed to have difficulty hearing since I went to school but I never told my teachers. My siblings seem to have that too.#NHSHenrietta
#NHSHenrietta I don't know why I have genetic disorders but people say it is because my parents are cousins.
I joined the Air Force after graduated from high school. #NHSHenrietta
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I received a call on day from Joe because he was accused for killing Ivy. I was honorably discharged meanwhile. #NHSHenrietta
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#NHSHenrietta when I want to know more about my mom and Hela cell. Rebecca Skloot asked me to meet with her after mom died for decades.
#NHSHenrietta I refused to meet with Skloot or put her in touch with anyone. But,one day,I told Skloot I can take her to meet Lawrence.
Skloot came to the grocery store that belongs to my brother Lawrence and we started talk about my mom. #NHSHenrietta
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#NHSHenrietta Me and Lawrence expressed madness towards the use of Hela cells after we got to know how important they are.
#NHSHenrietta my dad Day accused John Hopkins hospital because he didn't give consent to keep her cells.
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#NHSHenrietta http://www.icl-fi.org/english/wv/990/baltimore.html … John Hopkins hospitals is a dangerous place for black people. It is a news related with this topic.
#NHSHenrietta John Hopkins hospital labeled "colored" on test tubes when patients were black.It is a sign of prejudice and my mom suffered.
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#NHSHenrietta After hearing more about Hela cells from Skloot, me and Lawrence decided to make handouts abou my mom to distribute.
#NHSHenrietta All I have been doing after the widespread of Hela cells are trying to get money back from the Hopkins hospital.
#NHSHenrietta Scientists all over the world didn't credit my mom. On the other hand, her cells helped black scientists and researchers.
#NHSHenrietta I couldn't tell you how I feel with Hela cells. It brought pain for my mom but happiness for everyone in the world.
#NHSHenrietta If Hela cells make so much money, the Lacks family don't have the money to buy insurances. Why?
#NHSHenrietta why was the Lacks family not known for so long? Not everyone in lacks town know anything.
#NHSHenriettamy mom was thought to be Helen Lane at first because no one knows her real name and that is why no one knows the lacks family.
#NHSHenriettamy I did a bypass surgery and I am in debt. I don't have money to pay for a surgery even though my mom contributed Hela cells.
#NHSHenriettamy Maybe I am happy with Hela cells now because they have helped so much people.
#NHSHenrietta every person should know what mom's pain has brought to the world:the chances to survive.She deserves recognition and frames.
#NHSHenrietta http://themilitarywallet.com/types-of-military-discharges/ …
Still remember the day I was honorably discharged. Mom must be so proud of me!
#NHSHenrietta http://www.nbcnews.com/health/nih-finally-makes-good-henrietta-lacks-family-its-about-time-6C10867941 … After waiting for 62 years, my mom was known by more and more people. Thank@r_skloot for this!
“John Hopkin didn't give us no information about anything. That was the bad part. Not the sad part,but the bad part, cause I don't know if they didn't give us information because they was making money out of it, or if they was just wanting to keep us in the dark about it. I think they made money out of it, cause they were selling her cells all over the world and shipping them for dollars”(Skloot 420).
“But the history of Hopkins Hospital certainly isn’t pristine when it comes to black patients.”(418) #NHSHenrietta
Reflections:
The trend I saw in my tweets is that I was angry about not getting money for my mom’s cells but as I understand more, I forgave the doctors and the world. At first, I introduced myself and something about my mom. I didn't know anything about my mom and how painful she was until after others told me. After knowing more about HeLa cells through Skloot and internet, I was angry and felt unfair for my mom for not receiving credits. I blamed the doctors and the hospital for not gaining consent from my mom before taking her cells. At the end, I know how much HeLa cells have contributed to everyone in the world and I am glad about this. As long as people are healthy and happy now, I believe my mom would be happy. I specially want to thank Skloot for publishing her book and more and more people know my mom now. Now I am a peaceful and thankful person towards the world and my mom.
Work Cited
Skloot,Rebeccca, “The immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” Broadway Books,2011-03-08, IBooks,16/04/2017.
N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/news/images/lacks2.jpg>.18/04/2017
N.p., n.d. Web. <https://nihdirectorsblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/hela-ii.jpg>.18/04/2017
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