Happy Black History Month! NPR released an article where I pulled this statement, “This year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, pays homage to medical scholars and health care providers. The theme is especially timely as we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected minority communities and placed unique burdens on Black health care professionals.”
When I reflect upon this year’s theme of Black Health and Wellness, the first individual that comes to mind is Henrietta Lacks. She has been coined the Mother of Modern Medicine and I couldn’t agree more. The sacrifice this woman made has helped the world thousand times over. From Mrs. Lacks’ cervical cells being the first living human cell line, doctors, scientists, and researchers were able to create vaccines, identify better treatments for illnesses and gain a better understanding of cells.
What I appreciate most about this is the acknowledgment that Mrs. Lacks’ situation was less than ideal. John Hopkins and the communities around Henrietta Lacks continue to tell her story and are willing to have dialogue for how to improve care and understanding.
The willingness to learn from our mistakes is one of the major components of resiliency. Resiliency gives us the strength to get up that 100th time when you have fallen 101 times. It helps us expand our minds and create better ways to tackle a situation. Without shame, I encourage you to take a moment to assess what could you be doing better n the arena of health and wellness?
If you have not had the chance to read it, I highly recommend the book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Sloot. I have also attached this video link from John Hopkins as well: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henriettalacks/
Thank you, Henrietta Lacks. Happy Black History Month.
Wing Woman 