February 24, 2015 - The Woman's Reading Club met in the home of Mrs. Linda Anderson on February 19. President Donna Holt presided and welcomed two guests, Mrs. Winola Ellis and Mrs. Cindy Brown.
Following the business meeting, hostess and program leader Mrs. Linda Anderson reviewed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman Who was the unwitting source of cells (taken from her malignant biopsy in 1951) which Johns Hopkins researchers cultured to create the first- known immortal cell line called the Hela (a combination of the first two letters of Henrietta's first and last name).
Henrietta's immortal cells, Hela, grew very aggressively and continue to grow still, immortally, leading to scientific breakthroughs such as polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, cancer and AIDS medications, and to innumerable other scientific pursuits past, present, and future worldwide.
Mrs. Anderson's review was both informative and moving. Following the program, she treated the club to lovely assorted refreshments which she had prepared for the occasion.
