1. "[The HeLa factory] was built for one reason: to help stop polio" (Chapter 13, p.93).
The polio epidemic became widespread just after doctors discovered how to use HeLa cells to cure diseases. Consequently, the cells immediately played a part into the medicine industry. However, no credit or royalties were given to the Lack's family even though the cells were used to change the medical state of the nation.
2. "HeLa was a workhouse: it was hardy, it was inexpensive, and it was everywhere" (Chapter 13, p.97).
Once again, the HeLa cells are shown to be an industry, a medical breakthrough. And once again, the Lack's get nothing. Seeing the revolution that the HeLa cells have brought to the world makes you wonder: Was it worth it for Gey to steal a tissue sample from Henrietta for cultivation? The medical advancement that became possible as a result of it shows that it was. Despite the success of HeLa cells in curing all sorts of diseases, you cannot ignore the unethical truths of how they came to be.
3. "Gey was relieved that companies had taken over HeLa distribution so that he didn't have to do it himself, but he didn't like the fact that HeLa was now completely out of control" (Chapter 13, p.103).
Judging from this quote alone, Gey did not intend for HeLa to become a widespread trend in the medical world; the overwhelming amount of work he was met with and the great number of people working with the cells came as a surprise to him. Just not a pleasant surprise. Gey showed his disapproval in the HeLa trend by writing streams of letter to other scientists, trying to restrict the way they used Henrietta's cells.
4. "That wouldn't have protected the Lackses' privacy, but it certainly would have changed the course of their lives" (Chapter 14, p.107).
. . . and it did. Even though the media used a pseudonym "Helen Lane" to take credit for carrying the cells in her body, somehow reporters found a way to link the cells to Henrietta Lacks. Readers understand the living Lacks' struggles with reporters when thinking back on the chapter that Skloot discussed her attempts to speak with the family. Apparently, the family became plagued by people taking advantage of HeLa cells for medical and media fame.
5. "One of Gey's colleagues told me that Gey created the pseaudonym to throw journalists off the trail of Henrietta's real identity. If so, it worked" (Chapter 14, p.109).
This is just a rumor. We don't know if Gey was the one who created the pseudonym of if Gey created the pseudonym for said reasons. It is possible that Gey used it as a ploy to not having to give royalties to the Lacks. Because Helena Lane was a made up person, Gey didn't have to give any money up to anyone regarding the cells.
6. "Despite the beating and molesting, Deborah felt closer to Galen than she ever had to Day" (Chapter 15, p. 114).
It is very unfortunate that Deborah suffered such a traumatic childhood, and did not even know how wrongly she was treated by her uncle Galen. It makes one think, how would things have changed if Henrietta was alive? If Henrietta gave Deborah the love and attention she wanted, then Deborah would not have accepted affection from Galen. This goes to show that when Henrietta was alive, she kept her family strong on their feet. Once she's dead, her family crumbles and becomes a big mess.
7. "'You just got to go to school,' Bobbette said. 'Don't mess with boy cousins, and don't have babies until you're grown.'" (Chapter 15, p.116)
Bobbette knows what she's talking about. This mindset was rare for women in those days who wanted, contrary to Bobbette's advice, to have many kids so that in the future, the kids will benefit the parents. Bobbette not only teaches Deborah to value herself and fight back against anyone who tries to take advantage of her, but also tells her the consequences of cousin-incest. This breaks the cycle of cousin-incest in Lacks Town, with Bobbette being one of the first non-Lacks to marry a Lacks.
8. " . . . a tiny woman's dress shoe with open toes. I wondered if it was Henrietta's" (Chapter 16, p. 120).
Even when Henrietta's objects still remain present, people behave as if she did not exist, which is ironic considering how popular her cells are. Perhaps there are other reasons why those who knew Henrietta didn't want to talk about her. Maybe they were tired of talking of her to the reporters and scientists who took advantage of them and harassed them for information.
9. "'I heard they did a lot of research and some of her cells have develop a lot of curing other diseases'" (Chapter 16, p.122).
Cliff seems to have a more positive response to the scientific research of HeLa cells than the Lack's did. He didn't suffer as much harassment from the press as the Lack's family did but he has a point in the positivity in this tone. The HeLa cells, despite bringing about injustice to the Lack's, solved many of the world's medical problems and is probably one of the most vital medical advancements in history.
10. "'My daddy's uncle kept a lot of the colored Lackses as salves.' Ruby said. 'That must be where they got their name. Evidently they took it when they left the plantation. That's the only thing I can figure" (Chapter 16, p.125).
Ruby is either ignorant of the slave-master relationships between the white Lacks and the colored Lacks or is a racist who chooses to pretend that such relationships didn't happen, even though she and Henrietta are related.
