Henrietta Lacks was a young African American mother of four, living a peaceful life in Clover, Virginia, in the 1950s. She was diagnosed with a severe case of cervical cancer and died on October 4, 1951. Before she died, a surgeon took samples of her tumor without her knowledge or consent for a scientific study. Scientist George Gey was attempting to grow cells that had been removed from the human body, but all of the collected samples eventually died. Things changed when she received Henrietta's cancer cells; Unlike other cells, those taken from Henrietta's tumor reproduced outside her body long after they were removed, creating an entire generation every twenty-four hours. Because Henrietta's cells, nicknamed "HeLa" cells, never stopped growing and multiplying, they became the first "immortal" human cells outside the living body. Even today, HeLa cells can be used for experimentation in scientific laboratories around the world and have been part of research that has helped develop drugs to treat herpes, leukemia, influenza, Parkinson's disease and of many other medical advances. They are one of the most important medical discoveries ever made and have helped millions of people. But at what price? Award-winning science writer Rebecca Skloot tells Henrietta's story in her book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and investigates the impact this had on her family after her death. Skloot compares the difference between the medical view of HeLa cells and his family's view of Henrietta's body. George Gey severed all humanity from Henrietta's tissues, but when her family discovered this years later, they believed her soul could not rest. Skloot claims that the scientists had no right to take Henrietta's cells and reveals that... half of the document... was given to journalist Michael Gold, who published them without the family's consent. The Lacks family was relieved to learn the truth about HeLa cells. Skloot also educated them about how important HeLa cells have become in saving lives, which gave the family a sense of pride. Skloot didn't just write a book, she cured a family's problems. To scientists like George Gey, HeLa cells were just genetic material and Henrietta was just a statistic. Journalists like Michael Gold had no interest in Henrietta, only her cells. Skloot stood out from others because she cared about people, and that's what made the Lacks family trust her. Skloot wrote a book about Henrietta, her family, and how people manipulated them. It lifted the burden of the HeLa cells off the shoulders of the Lacks family and showed the world that there really was a soul behind the cell.