Dead Men (lit chart #2)

Dead Men (lit chart #1)

Disease-Asthma

Asthma is a long term, incurable 

respiratory disease in which one's airways contract and tighten, and there is a build up of mucus. Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma. Most of these people are young children, though asthma can occur in any age group. About 3,000 per year die from asthma. Fortunately, the symptoms of asthma are treatable by doctors and physicians. 

Asthma is diagnosed by family history, physical exams, lung function tests, and other tests. Researchers are not sure of the underlying cause of asthma, but many doctors believe that it is caused by a combination of family genetics and environment. The most common treatments for asthma is anti-inflammation drugs and beonchiodilator inhalers. 

References:

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/resources/lung/naci/asthma-info/

Career-Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists use science to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the respiratory system. To become a respiratory therapist, you must have knowledge of the cardiopulmonary physiology, physiology in general, biomedical engineering, how to work technology, and social skills. Some illnesses that respiratory therapists treat are asthma and emphysema.They treat patients as young as infants and as old as elderly patients.Most therapists work in hospitals, while others work in nursing care facilities or travel to patient's homes.

Respiratory therapists typically need an associate's degree, but some have bachelor's degrees.To practice respiratory therapy, you need to have a license. The license is issued in every state except for Alaska. The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $55,870. The employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 19 percent to 2022.

References: 

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/respiratory-therapist

Disease-Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. Mutations in the genes interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscles. For most people with the common type of muscular dystrophy, the symptoms show up in childhood. This common type of muscular dystrophy is called myotonic dystrophy, also known as Steinert's disease and abbreviated as MMD. In rare cases, it can appear in newborn infants. 

Early symptoms of myotonic dystrophy are more behavioral than physical. For example, the have problems planning ahead, making decisions, and processing visual-spacial dimensions. For adults, symptoms include breathing and swelling abnormalities, cataracts, weakness in the head and neck area, heart difficulties, insulin resistance, weakened internal organs, hand muscle weakness, and myotonia (problems relaxing grip, causes pain). These symptoms get worse when the weather is cold. There is currently no cure for myotonic dystrophy, there are only cures to alleviate the symptoms.

References:
Signs and Symptoms | Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy | MDA

Career-Masseuse (A Day In The Life)

A masseuse is a massage therapist. They treat their clients using touch and pressure to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. Their job is to relieve pain, help rehabilitate injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general health of their clients. They work in a variety of settings that may be either private or public. Some even travel to their clients' homes or offices to give a massage. 

To become a massage therapist, you must complete a postsecondary education program of 500 or more hours of study and experience, although the guidelines may vary by state. Most states require masseuses to have a license or certification to practice massage therapy. The median pay for a masseuse is $35,970 and the job outlook looks pretty good; the employment of massage therapists is expected to grow 23% by 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. 

Reference:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-therapists.htm

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Chapter 37-38

HeLa Quotes Chapter 37-38

1) "When Deborah got to her doctor's office, her blood pressure and blood sugar was so high, her doctor was amazed she hadn't had a stroke or heart attack while we were in Clover." (297)

This is foreshadowing Deborah's eventual death because of the multitude of health problems that she had. Though she has many health problems, she is much more focused on honoring her mother at conferences and learning as much as she can about her mother's cells. 

2)"But we both knew the break from HeLa wouldn't last--" (297)

There was a brief time when Rebecca and Deborah were not researching Henrietta's medical files, but it appears that they can't take a "break" from the HeLa life, seeing as they are surrounded by people angry about not receiving profits from the cells, or people who pester them for more information on HeLa cells. 

3) "...everything else seemed to be spiraling in the wrong direction." (298)

At this point of the story, Deborah's son was arrested, and family tension soared between Deborah and her brothers. They even were against Deborah speaking at the conferences, but Deborah insisted on honoring her mother. Soon after, the bombing in 9/11 occurred and the conferences were canceled. 

4) "About an hour into the service Deborah, realized she couldn't move her arm." (299)

This is the climax of Deborah's health problems. She was at the congregation and then had a stroke. At the brink of death, her grandson Davon slapped her face to keep her alive, which saved her. Still, Deborah was unfazed by her health crisis and still wanted to go to school to take her tests. 

5) "Better than since before I found out they took my mother cells. I feel so light, you know? It lifted my burden." (301)

The Lack's journey with Rebecca Skloot helped them seek closure with their mother's cells and the truth. Instead of being angry and resentfully seeking money from John Hopkins, they wanted to learn about HeLa cells to feel closer with their mom. They became proud of the cells' contributions and let go of their anger. 

6) "Cause there's nothin to be scared about with my mother and then cells. I don't want nothin to keep me from learnin no more." (302)

In this quote, Deborah states that from this point forward, she will dedicate her life to learning, something inhibited by HeLa harassment, pregnancy, and early marriage. The only thing in Deborah's way now if her health, something she aims to improve through her education. 

7) "It's too late for Henrietta's children . . . This story ain't about us anymore. It's about the new Lacks children." (302)

Though Deborah was so excited to take courses and have a formal education, she realized that her time is over. There has been too much damage done to her in her old age and she can't continue studying. All she wishes now is for the children of the next Lacks generation to become educated. 

8) "Clover was gone." (305)

The town that Henrietta and her family grew up in was nothing but a corpse of a town. The town, and it's history with Henrietta, has disappeared. None of the Lacks family knew about it until Skloot informed them. When this town went down, the members of the Lacks family began suffering from unfortunate events. 

9) "Death just following us and this story everywhere we go" (306)

In the 2000's, Gary had died of a heart attack, Cootie's mother died for unknown causes, Fred died from throat cancer, Day died of stroke, and Cootie killed himself from all the trauma. This generation of Lack's was quickly disappearing. 

10) "I really believe she's up in heaven, and she's doin okay, because she did enough suffering for everyone down here" (309) 

Deborah has a bright way of facing death. Instead of grieving over not being on earth anymore, she rejoices at the thought of finally meeting her mother. She makes the point that Henrietta was a selfless woman who suffered in her living so people would be better after her death.