The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

By September 1951, cancer has taken over Henrietta’sbody. She must receive constant blood transfusions because her kidneys aren’t filtering toxins out of her body. Finally doctors decide to stop giving her transfusions because she’s using up too much blood. Henrietta’s cousin Emmett Lacks hears that Henrietta needs blood, and gathers more of her male cousins to visit an emaciated Henrietta, who’s being watched by Sadie and Gladys. After visiting Henrietta, Emmett and the men go to a room designated for “colored” blood collection to give blood for her. In the present day, Emmett remembers Henrietta’s kindness and beauty, and her pain.

Late September in 1951, a doctor gives Henrietta a heavy dose of morphine and orders all other treatment to cease. Henrietta wakes up terrified and disoriented. She then tells Gladys that she is going to die, and she begs her sister to care for her children. After she falls asleep, Gladys goes back home to Clover. She then calls Day to tell him that Henrietta is going to die, and to say that her last thoughts were of her children.