The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Chapter 35 Summary

Soul Cleansing (2001)

  • The hives continue to spread as Deborah and Skloot get to Clover. Deborah takes Benadryl to control them, but it doesn't seem to be working.
  • They visit the home-house and the cemetery. They also visit Gladys, Henrietta's sister, but Deborah's still acting strange.
  • Her cousin Gary comes in and Deborah shows Gary the picture of Elsie. Gary tries to play it off, but he knows that something serious is going on with his cousin.
  • Skloot explains the emotional journey they're on and we learn that she and Gary had spoken many times over the years. She knows that Gary is close to Deborah and understands her pain.
  • Gary tries to calm Deborah, but the usual stuff isn't working. When she talks about Henrietta and Elsie, her face gets red and she seems to be having a panic attack.
  • Gary goes into preacher mode—it's a gift he has—and begins to pray over Deborah to take away her anxiety.
  • And it seems to work. He hugs his cousin to him and she seems to have a cathartic moment as his soulful praying reaches its climax.
  • Deborah asks God to take the burden of the cells from her life. Gary tells God that he knows Skloot came to take that burden away from her.
  • Skloot's not prepared to be included in this, but there it is. Deborah feels better and they can head home.
  • Skloot's not sure she understands what she's just witnessed. "Dumbfounded" is how she feels.