What physical ailments did Deborah suffer from as a result of the excitement and stress
of seeing her mother’s cells for the first time, and learning about Elsie?
Deborah found out through a published book by Michael Gold how Henrietta was in pain and how her body was left after an overdose of the radiation the doctors at Hopkins were treating her with. Because of this, Deborah became extremely sad thinking of the pain her mother was in before her death. She thought it was unfair that the reporter published a book containing information from her mother's medical records and John Hopkins denied giving Deborah the same information (Skloot 209-210). Her stress became worse as a con artist tried suing her so she stopped accepting calls and looking at mail from all the suing reports − disconnecting herself from the world. Until a year and a half after the trouble the con artist had done, Deborah decided to get back to doing research on her mother and found that her sister, Elsie, was put into a mental institute known as Crownsville. She tried calling Crownsville asking for a copy of Elsie's records, but she was told that the records were destroyed the year her sister died. After that call, Deborah had a mental breakdown and trouble breathing. She broke into hives all over her body because of all the histamine released in response to the accumulating stress. Her body was having a sort of allergic reaction to the stress(Hives 2010). Her blood pressure was so high that she could have a stroke(Skloot 229-231).
Hives (2010). Stress Hives. Retrieved from http://www.hives.org/stress-hives.php.
Skloot, R. (2010). Ch. 26 - Breach of Privacy. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(pp. 209-210). New York: Crown.
Skloot, R. (2010). Ch. 28 - After London. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(pp. 229-231). New York: Crown.
Elizabeth is correct about why Deborah suffered so much and why it was so dangerous that she was feeling that way. Not only is she depressed of knowing that her mother and sister suffered so much and were going through really tough times but also because Deborah never really could have done something about it. Not being able to actually be there for her sister and mother is what really made Deborah feel the way she was and now that her mom and sister were dead, she knew she was going to live with the guilt of not being able to help them. Deborah living with the stress was unhealthy and could lead to fatal consequences.
Deborah found out through a published book by Michael Gold how Henrietta was in pain and how her body was left after an overdose of the radiation the doctors at Hopkins were treating her with. Because of this, Deborah became extremely sad thinking of the pain her mother was in before her death. She thought it was unfair that the reporter published a book containing information from her mother's medical records and John Hopkins denied giving Deborah the same information (Skloot 209-210). Her stress became worse as a con artist tried suing her so she stopped accepting calls and looking at mail from all the suing reports − disconnecting herself from the world. Until a year and a half after the trouble the con artist had done, Deborah decided to get back to doing research on her mother and found that her sister, Elsie, was put into a mental institute known as Crownsville. She tried calling Crownsville asking for a copy of Elsie's records, but she was told that the records were destroyed the year her sister died. After that call, Deborah had a mental breakdown and trouble breathing. She broke into hives all over her body because of all the histamine released in response to the accumulating stress. Her body was having a sort of allergic reaction to the stress(Hives 2010). Her blood pressure was so high that she could have a stroke(Skloot 229-231).
ReplyDeleteHives (2010). Stress Hives. Retrieved from http://www.hives.org/stress-hives.php.
Skloot, R. (2010). Ch. 26 - Breach of Privacy. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(pp. 209-210). New York: Crown.
Skloot, R. (2010). Ch. 28 - After London. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks(pp. 229-231). New York: Crown.
Elizabeth is correct about why Deborah suffered so much and why it was so dangerous that she was feeling that way. Not only is she depressed of knowing that her mother and sister suffered so much and were going through really tough times but also because Deborah never really could have done something about it. Not being able to actually be there for her sister and mother is what really made Deborah feel the way she was and now that her mom and sister were dead, she knew she was going to live with the guilt of not being able to help them. Deborah living with the stress was unhealthy and could lead to fatal consequences.
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