2. However, in addition to the medical treatment of Lia, her parents identified the actual illness of Lia more effectively and they claimed Lia as having quag dab peg which means “the spirit catches you and you fall down.” In a broader sense, Lia’s parents claimed that the door slamming has frightened Lia so badly that her soul left her body and got lost. The first book discussed at our ‘Neurology Book Club’ was The spirit catches you and you fall down (figure 1). Cultural values, social, norms, social standards, and religious beliefs are some of the factors that help people of different regions to manage their lives in a certain manner. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. Parents could not communicate what had happened so they had no way o knowing she had just been seizing; saw congested chest and prescribed an antibiotic. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. Although “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” touches on so sensitive subjects, Anne Fadiman manages to illustrate the cultural differences so starkly that I ended up feeling sympathetic to both the western medical community that was trying to treat Lia Lee as well as Lia’s family and her community. Soul loss. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman ISBN: 978-0-374-52564-4 / 368 pages This guide is intended to enrich your experience of reading The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. The story further reveals that Lia also agonized with more than twenty attacks and until the age of four and a half years, Lia visited emergency or pediatric clinics more than one hundred times. Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide) Fadiman, Anne, 1953-. From the Hmong perspective, it might be easy to think that the Doctors aren’t trying to help at all. In reality, Fadiman has tried to combine the tragedy of a family with the overall existence and significance of Hmong cultural values and standards and, therefore, the story offers complete satisfaction to its readers. Buy Study Guide. I like shorelines, weather fronts, international borders. 1997, is a qualitative ethnography examining the obstacles and experiences of a cultural . At this point in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, the idea of right and wrong begins to blur. Neil, Lia’s doctor, wondered if he should lower the quality of care he provides Lia so that it would improve her health outcomes. In the first place, Lia Lee was a healthy child like other children who born in the United States at the same time. Within the book, the author has tried to show the disturbing link between Hmong cultural beliefs with the modern medical profession in America. When he found a double dose of Tegretol in Lia’s blood (Foua and Nao Kao had decided they liked Tegretol), Neil wrote a letter to Child Protective Services, advising them to place Lia in foster care. I can see how some physicians would take exception to this book. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Ask Your Own Question. They are an ethnic group who lived in China for hundreds of years. It is not in the job description and a Doctor would have to go above and beyond to provide proper care (which they should! On the other hand, the reader is also able to understand the persistence with which Lia’s physicians push modern medicine on Lia. Quag dab peg, which means “the spirit catches you and you fall down”, describes the Lia’s affliction in Hmong culture. After the youngest daughter, Lia, is diagnosed with epilepsy, the family runs headlong into the stubborn American medical system—an experience made even more difficult by the fact that parents Nao Kao and Foua can't speak a lick of English. The title of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the literal translation of the Hmong words for epilepsy. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Learning from Tragedy I had to dry my tears and compose myself before beginning this post. Section Four: Chapters 15-19; My Review and Takeaways; My Review and Takeaways. The story starts with the Lee’s forced immigration to America and talks about Lia being born with epilepsy. Previous Next . Most of the story relies upon interviews with the family and the clinic staff conducted by the author and thus there would be no way to determine if the stories are true. I had seen it in various bookstores when I was traveling in Vietnam, but didn’t want to spend the money and then have to haul it around during my travels. The subtitle of this book, originally published in 1997, presents the story in a nutshell: “A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures”. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the poignant story of a young Hmong girl suffering from epilepsy who is caught in the cultural chasm between her family and her rationalist American doctors. 8:10. Written by Jennie. Two diverse cultures collide in different aspects to ruin a young girl’s life in Ann Fadiman’s book “The Spirit Catches You and You fall Down.” The book is a story of the Lee family. I can see how some physicians would take exception to this book. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is also a good one, though slightly different subject matter (as you could probably tell by the full title). Cultural Values, Spirituality, and Medicine. Chapter Summary for Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, chapter 7 summary. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Review - Duration: 8:10. The book is crafty in its juggling act between the Lee Family perspective and the MCMC perspective. [et_bloom_locked optin_id=”optin_1″] Nao Kao and Foua Lee are portrayed as immigrants who lived in California and born in Merced, in 1982. From the Hmong perspective, it might be easy to think that the Doctors aren’t trying to help at all. It is unclear if the author got anything factually wrong. This concerns Lia Lee, a child with severe epilepsy whose parents were refugees from Laos in the USA during the early 1980s, and describes the conflict between the Western medicine of the local hospital and shamanistic culture of Lia’s family and community. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Study Guide. While, on the other hand, parents of Lia were more likely to force doctors to understand the saying quag dab peg which means “the spirit catches you and you fall down.”, However, the cross-cultural issue due to which Lia’s parents failed to properly communicate with doctors, resulted in chaos just because Lia’s parents were unable to convey the actual meaning of their Hmong claim quag dab peg which means “the spirit catches you and you fall down.”. Learn the important quotes in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down and the chapters they're from, including why they're important and what they mean in the context of the book. The spirit catches you and you fall down summary: The story is about a three months old girl, Lia Lee, facing the issue of epilepsy, as her first attack. Let Our Team of Pofessional Writers Take Care of Your Paper. Readessay.com – supported by a team of PhD Writers for essay writing, Assignment Help, Homework Help.‍. The Manifold Curiosity 6,205 views. By Guest 9 Comments. The spirit catches you and you fall down by anne fadiman. It is unclear if the author got anything factually wrong. In other words, it would not be wrong to say that such factors influence people and their lives, both in a direct and indirect manner as well. Home‎ > ‎ Hmong vs. Western Medicine. Anne Fadiman in “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” tells this clash as the story of Lia Lee and her American doctors. that a person shares with another is an example of culture. The Hmong spent a lot of time talking about life in America while they were in refugee camps in Thailand. Much of the book is revolved around American doctors and their role in the lives of the Hmong/Lee family. The book, The spirit Catches you as you Fall Down by Anne Fadiman follows the life of a Hmong family living in the city of Merced California after fleeing their home in Laos due to persecution. Lastly, we must decide which practice fits best with Lia and her conditions. This free study guide is stuffed with the juicy details and important facts you need to know. Quag dab peg, which means “the spirit catches you and you fall down”, describes the Lia’s affliction in Hmong culture. The lack of understanding and communication lead to a medical tragedy for Hmong child Lia Lee. There is basically no training in Medical school for how to deal with patients from a different culture that do not believe in modern medicine. They call it "quab dab peg": the spirit catches you and you fall dwn Why was Lia misdiagnosed the first time she was brought to the hopsital? How does it work? The story is about a three months old girl, Lia Lee, facing the issue of epilepsy, as her first attack. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures is a 1997 book by Anne Fadiman that chronicles the struggles of a Hmong refugee family from Houaysouy, Sainyabuli Province, Laos, the Lees, and their interactions with the health care system in Merced, California. the landlord told Hmong women to move out and called police after the landlord found out her family was about to sacrifice a pig. RE: “The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down” Do You need help with your school? ‘The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down’ is the literal translation of the Hmong terminology for an epileptic seizure. All rights reserved Bibliography. Don't take death lying down | Jim McDermott | TEDxRainier - Duration: 12:58. Lia Lee is a Hmong child that was born in the U. S. n July 19, 1982, after her parents, Foua and Nao Kao Lee, moved to America. By studying miscommunication between Hmong patients and their American doctors, Fadiman demonstrates that many cross-cultural misunderstandings hinge on a disconnect between the two parties’ priorities. In The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down, there are countless examples of medical misunderstandings that can help educate us on both American and Hmong cultures. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down documents the struggles of the Lees, a family of Hmong refugees who live in sunny Merced, California. ceremony: called a hu plig, or soul-calling, sacrificed a pig and chickens, sometimes they want to do it in the hospital. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman Mid-Term Paper The spirit catches you and you fall down, by Anne Fadiman story talks about the cultural differences between Hmong and American cultures regarding medical professional problems for Hmong child 's name Lia with epilepsy. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down 1888 Words | 8 Pages. All doctors know about epilepsy; virtually none know about the Hmong people. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman (FSG) By Anne Fadiman. Points go from bad to worse. The falling condition of Lia caused great tension between doctors and parents of Lia, especially when it comes to proper means of communication. Essentially, the Hmong believe that Lia’s soul was taken from her body by a dab (a bad spirit). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the poignant story of a young Hmong girl suffering from epilepsy who is caught in the cultural chasm between her family and her rationalist American doctors. Changing Lia’s medication scared her parents and they would be more hesitant to give Lia her medication. Published in 1997, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures is a remarkable masterpiece that feels just as significant today, more than 20 years after being published, for its commentary on cultural differences, social construction of illness, and most important of all, empathy. Due to the diligent research and interviewing by the author, the reader is privy to all of the relevant cultural competencies that allow for a sympathetic view of the Lee’s handling of their daughter’s epilepsy. The main focus of the book is a little girl named Lia Lee who suffers tragedy in her life at a very young age. In other words, American doctors are more likely to believe in modern technology and they did so in the case of Lia but failed to identify the actual illness of Lia and it turned as a history in the medical field of the United States. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman shows in great detail how cultural differences if not appreciated and ignored can cause a great deal of pain. Her father declared, "when the spirit catches you, you fall down," meaning a powerful spirit was locked inside her body, Mai Lee said. The same is the case in the book named “The Spirit Catches you and you fall down,” written by Anne Fadiman. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Audiobook Online. Nursing Topic: Critical Thinking Paper details: In the book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, firstly, how did Lia’s healthcare demonstrate or not demonstrate cultural competence. Annals of Internal Medicine 88(2):251-8. Chapter 6. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that Fadiman observed all aspects of the overwhelming condition, whereas offering readers a challenge to deeply examine two different notions following the medical condition of Lia Lee, including spirituality and medicine. Find out what happens in our Chapter 15 summary for The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. This dilemma is not something I would encounter in a textbook or lecture and I believe this is just one example of how this book will positively impact my professional career. Do you believe removing Lia from her parent’s care was the right choice for her overall wellbeing? There is basically no training in Medical school for how to deal with patients from a different culture that do not believe in modern medicine. Medical professionals deal with their patients according to their medical knowledge and limit of using medical technology, in the first place. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down examines the ways in which people cling to various strongly-held tenets set forth by their cultures. Find a summary of this and each chapter of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down! But as written in the story, at first, doctors failed to even diagnose Lia’s medical conditions just because they were examining Lia like other medical patients. Jeanine Hilt is a … Fadiman does a fantastic job in allowing the reader to understand that both sides can be right and wrong at the same time. Review: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Tweet Pin Email Print Yummly LinkedIn Like Share. Within the story, the author has linked Hmong culture, religion, and its history with the medical data of Lia Lee, in the form of alternative chapters. 1978. Where was The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down written?[/et_bloom_locked]. But in fact, the case of Lia is a clear portrait of a cultural belief due to which people hold different opinions about life and death, about body and soul, and about reality and myth, and about spirituality and medical approach. Authors Anne Fadiman and Joshua Reno explores the different aspects of culture and ethnography in their two books, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures, and Waste Away: Working and Foua and Nao Kao had no way of knowing that Dan had diagnosed it as epilepsy, the most common of all neurological disorders. Parents of Lia Lee took her to the Merced Community Medical Center, but the doctors at the hospital failed to diagnose the actual cause behind Lia’s epilepsy and they identified Lia with a bronchial infection. Is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down a true story? Western Western medicine is very scientific. Why do you think it started when it did? The story focuses on Lia Lee, whose family immigrated to Merced, Calif., from Laos in 1980. This information can have a direct effect on the patient’s treatment plan. Hmong people have their own ways to treat by tvix neeb. I think people would really enjoy this book. However, given the strong reputation of Anne Fadiman as a journalist and author, the reader should be heavily inclined to take the narrative as truth. The book is crafty in its juggling act between the Lee Family perspective and the MCMC perspective. Fadiman does a fantastic job in allowing the reader to understand that both sides can be right and wrong at the same time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. 1997. High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is an amazing true story which highlights the role of cultural competence (or lack thereof) and its importance in the healthcare system.The book "explores the clash between a small county hospital in California and a refugee family from Laos over the care of Lia Lee, a Hmong child diagnosed with severe epilepsy. Welcome back to The DO Book Club! Book Review #3- “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” Chapters 7-12. I Can write your papers, do your presentations, labs, and final exams too. Illnesses we experience can be explained by our knowledge of viruses, bacteria, the human body, etc. The author did a fantastic job presenting both sides of the story. About The Author. Asked by Gillian A #980459. Educational warning: This book will teach you something important about non-compliant patients. Navigation. Yer, as the older sister of Lee, once slammed a door so hard that caused so much noise leading towards fleeing of Lia Lee’s soul, as her parents Foua and Nao Kao identified the reason behind the sickness of Lia Lee. Anne Fadiman. Menu About The Book; About The Author; Book Summary. By Guest 9 Comments. It is not in the job description and a Doctor would have to go above and beyond to provide proper care (which they should!). The Lee family emigrated from a refugee’s camp in Thailand, where they sought refuge from the embattled mountains in Laos in the early 1980s. 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