Post 7: How is Henrietta Lacks Courageous?

In the novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks written by Rebecca Skloot, Henrietta Lacks shows courage as she confronts a doctor about her health problems. As a black woman during her time, segregation was still prominent and most African Americans would not even be able to go to the doctor. "David drove Henrietta nearly 20 miles to get there, not because she preferred it, but because it was the only major hospital for miles that treated black patients," (15). The fact that she even admitted to a hospital instead of staying at home hiding her illness was courageous. Many blacks at that time wouldn't dare enter a hospital, scared they wouldn't recieve the help that she needs. In conclusion, I believe that she is courageous because she is able to confront her problems instead of hiding them. She was not afraid to accept help and ask for it as it is hard enough for a black woman to recieve the attention she needs.

Post 6: Chapter 3 Question 15

Cell division is extremely important during the body's growth period. But when an organ is severely damaged, the lolst cells cannot be replaced and in return is permanently damaged. Most cells undergo mitosis until the end of puberty, when adult body size is reached and overall body growth ends. After this time, only certain cells routinely divide. Other cells almost completely lose thier ability to divide when they are fully mature and become amitotic. The cells cannot be replaced by the same type of cells. This is why the heart, for example, becomes weaker and weaker after a heart attack or injury. In conclusion, an organ is permanently damaged after it has been through an injury because the organ does not have the ability to divide and reproduce new cells to repair the damage.