The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. She gave birth there to her thirteenth child, Mai. Her parents call an ambulance, fearing the doctors won't give her immediate attention otherwise. Though Anne often wants to take the Hmongs' side in all of this, even she must admit that Western medicine can be truly life-changing. Nao Kao, Blia. In this union, an American was celebrating an event in a Hmong way, truly a collision of. When Lia Lee was about three months old, her older sister Yer slammed the front door. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. 5). Foua and Nao Kao learned to recognize the signs signaling the onset of Lia's seizures, such as twitching. The Lee family was convinced that the door's slamming had been so frightening as to make Lia's soul fly away. The Spirit Catches You closes with a neeb ceremony—a Hmong religious ritual meant to bring Lia's soul back to her body after a big seizure leaves her officially brain-dead. Summary. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. As…. When a rabies scare cropped up, to get the Hmong to bring in their dogs for vaccines, he organized a Rabies Parade in which there were three characters - a tiger, a chicken, and a dab - which told the people by loudspeaker to bring in their dogs. ) Citation. Talking to Fadiman later, she and her husband tried to describe what it was like to see Lia in such a terrible state. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 1. The Spirt Catches You and You Fall Down follows the true story of a healthcare battle between a hospital in California and a Hmong refugee family from Laos escaping the Vietnam war over the care of their little girl in 1982. When Peggy first saw Lia after the girl’s return from Fresno, she was heartbroken: Lia was hardly alive. But for Lia and her family, they had added barriers of being immigrants who speak no English, who cannot find jobs, and were exiled from their own country. “ […. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as "quag dab peg," which means "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (3. A little girl who is part of Merced, California’s population of Hmong immigrants. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down study guide contains a biography of Anne Fadiman, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Many Hmong people don't trust American doctors. Need help on characters in Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down? Check out our detailed character descriptions. Qaug means to fall over, and peg means to catch. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down written by Ann Fadiman is about a Hmong child, Lia Lee, that has epilepsy. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. Her father is furious, while her mother is devastated. The Story Catches You and You Fall Down: Tragedy, Ethnography, and "Cultural Competence" Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (Noon-day Press, 1997) is widely used in "cultural competence" efforts within U. 11-12 Ch. If a Hmong walked into a doctor’s office complaining of a stomachache, she says, he may actually be “complaining that the entire universe was out of balance. 1997 Winner, National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. . At the age of three months, Lia Lee had an epileptic seizure. Chapter Summaries with Notes / Analysis. Jonas attended the most elite secondary school in Laos before eventually earning a master’s degree from a French university. In the presentation, he spent forty-five minutes painstakingly detailing the entire process, from choosing the right kind of hook to go fishing to preparing. She notes the “uphill battle” the Lees faced in converting their apartment—with its humming refrigerator and fluttering TV screen—into a tranquil, spiritual atmosphere. Her parents, Nao Kao and Foua, were Hmong refugees from Laos who. A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Share to Facebook. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. It tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong girl with severe epilepsy, and her family’s journey with managing the condition and the cultural barriers that posed great challenges in Lia’s care. The fact that it has a divine nature to them and the fact that the doctors see it only as a disease to be either cured or controlled foreshadows problems yet to come between the 2 cultures. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. , a Chinese emperor named Hoang-ti decrees that any Hmong convicted of a crime will be castrated. Lia was admitted to MCMC seventeen times between the ages of eight months and four and a half years. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. The family would have called in a txiv neeb, a Hmong shaman or traditional healer, if any difficulties arose. Nuland, The New Republic “ The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down changed how doctors see themselves and how they see their patients. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. Now we know where the overbearing-and-oppressive idea comes from. Neil and Peggy are great doctors, but Nao Kao and Foua are not big fans of their seemingly cold and uncaring demeanor. Chapter 11: The Big One. Lia neither died nor recovered. For many American doctors and patients, Western biomedicine is accepted as the default setting. 3-4 Ch. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. 14). Chapter 11 - The Big One. In which I celebrate Nonfiction November by discussing my favorite nonfiction book of all time, Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down--the. In response, Lia's eyes rolled up, her arms jerked over her head, and she fainted. In retrospect, Fadiman writes, he questioned this decision, but at the time he was steadfast in his belief that he was doing the right thing. • Preface. The Lee's, a family that endured hardships, frustration, anger, confusion, and hope while living in the United State's of America. While commonplace in Hmong culture, Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of ritual sacrifice, especially when it is in the public domain. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. ‘The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down’ is the literal translation of the Hmong terminology for an epileptic seizure. Intensely researched and eloquently written, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down weaves sociology, history, medicine, and psychology into a tapestry that permanently raises the bar in literary journalism. (2003). Neil admitted that, after all of his efforts and the building of tension before her cataclysmic seizure, he. 5 Running Head: The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down contributied to the developed of postcolonial theory. Exactly what every hospital needs. The Hmong see illness and healing as spiritual matters linked to virtually everything in the universe while medical community marks a division between body and soul and concerns itself almost exclusively with the former. 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. She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. On the day before Thanksgiving, Lia had a mild runny nose, but little appetite. The narrator—Anne—reflects on her time with the Lees, a Hmong American family living in Merced, California. Since the seizure happens right after her older sister Yer slams the door, the Lees think the loud noise startled Lia's soul and made it flee her body. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down 1. After graduating in 1975, she wrote for a variety of publications, including Harper's, Life magazine, and The New York Times. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Lia Lee. Many shamans—known as txiv neeb—use seizures to commune with the spirit realm. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Introduction. That is why it is so important to establish an appropriate contact to avoid a situation similar to Lia’s problem. The book was written by Anne Fadiman, a journalist with some serious pedigree. The TV was off, a candle had. Her American doctors had a strict and rigorous. Thing weren't quite so rosy when he "used to live in Richmond, Virginia" (16. On November 25, 1986, the day before Thanksgiving, Lia was eating as normal when she began to seize. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. The Lee Children. They spoiled her and treated her like a princess, believing that her epilepsy marked her as special and that she might someday. Martin is an eccentric intellectual with an I. Now, instead of living off the land, they're forced to rely on American food drops to survive. After hearing more good things about Cali from his brother, Dang Moua buys a cheap car. Fadiman writes that Lia was seven when she first met her, which was two years after she had entered a nonresponsive state (her doctors called this a “persistent vegetative state”). Contrary to the belief that the qualities of one side do not merge with those of the other, however, it. The book contains many Hmong phrases and many medical phrases, both unfamiliar to most readers. . Chapters 5-8: In the second section of the book, the reader meets Neil and Peggy, married pediatricians who are incredibly hard working and see the light at the end of the tunnel with Lia’s case. Two cultural assumptions rise to the surface of this section: the first is that the Hmong eat dogs and cats; the second assumption is that Americans only care about money and thus would be unperturbed by the sight of a severed cow’s head on a doorstep as long as the cow had been fairly purchased. Free Summary of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Luckily, Lia ends up in the home of Dee Korda, a woman who fosters several children with special needs. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. Looks like you're viewing this page on a mobile device. Foua carried her in a large, embroidered nyias, or baby carrier, preferring it to the wheelchair provided by the Merced County Health Department. Hmong Studies Journal, 2004-05, 5: 1-36. Home The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Q & A 1. Members of 14 Hmong clans live in Merced. It deals with their child Lia, her American doctors, and the collisions of those two cultures. Lia has her first seizure when she is three months old. Buy Study Guide About The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary Character List Glossary Themes Quotes and Analysis Ch. Lia Lee Character Analysis. Dee falls in love with Lia and cares for her like her own. Share to Tumblr. While considered by some to be an illness, seizures are actually seen as a good thing. We might not know much about the Lee children as individuals, but much like the von Trapps or the Brady Bunch, they work best in a pack. When she was forcibly taken into a foster home, word spread throughout the Hmong community, reinforcing the idea that American doctors are not to be trusted. Birth. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down offers an insight into the clash of modern western medicine with the traditional methods and people of another culture, in this case the Hmong. Analysis. The teacher's language has a rational detachment similar to the tone of the medical notes on Lia 's case. Chapter Summaries with Notes / Analysis. The timeline below shows where the character Sue Xiong appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. In the presentation, he spent forty-five minutes painstakingly detailing the entire process, from choosing the right kind of hook to go fishing to preparing. On June 26, 1986, Lia—now considered a Dependent Child of the Juvenile Court—is removed from her home and placed in foster care for six months. You can use it for research and reference purposes to write your. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in order to consider divides between Hmong and American culture. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. When Lia returns home the family is overjoyed to have her in their beds once again. Chapters 1-4: The book begins with background on Lia Lee and the Lee Family. 00 Carol A Redding, MA, is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and an InformationSummary. Ultimately, everything comes to a head when Lia's doctor, Neil Ernst, gets fed up with this lack of communication and sends Lia into a foster home. The Lees' story takes on a more reflective mood in Chapters 15 and 17–18. However, the Lees become discouraged when they notice Lia's verbal skills have regressed. D. Compared to the polite and nonintrusive methods of the txiv neeb s, American doctors' methods are frightening. She was interested in investigating the circumstances surrounding Lia's health care but was warned by fellow colleagues. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. Nao Kao, Blia. The book is crafty in its juggling act between the Lee Family perspective and the MCMC perspective. Nao Kao Lee Character Analysis. 45. Writing both a literary profile and an in-depth ethnography, Fadiman devotes whole chapters to the history and context of the Hmong ethnic identity, which she characterizes as “independent, insular, antiauthoritarian,. Nao Kao and Foua were right! To make sense of all this, Anne turns to a series of eight questions coined by Harvard psychiatrist Arthur Kleinman. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. She was the only one in her family to be born outside of Laos. Aside from the medical parts, which are described carefully and objectively, and without portioning any blame, this book is a very touching story of a family coping with adversity in a brave and dignified. These stragglers form several rebel groups, one of which is led by Vang Pao. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. Between the ages of 8 months and four and a half years, the Lees brought Lia to the hospital dozens of times. Unfortunately for Lia, her parents are in the same boat. The Big One. The Spirit Catches you and you fall down. 2001 Jun;76(6):620-1. Chapter 9 continues Lia's story, sharing events from both Lia's parents' and doctors' points of view. The story told in ''The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,'' by Anne Fadiman, a freelance journalist and the newly named editor of The American Scholar, is that of Lia Lee, born on July 19, 1982, in the Merced Community Medical Center. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman is an analysis of Western medicine and traditional Hmong medicine in the treatment of a young child with severe epilepsy in Merced, California. It’s no surprise, then, that things have changed in the fifteen years that have elapsed between the book’s last chapter and this afterword. Brilliantly reported and beautifully crafted, The Spirit Catches You and You. May Ying Xiong Character Analysis. The s pirit catches you and you fall down is cited in 14 different citation styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, APA, ACS, and many others. The Hmong had always been Montagnards, mountain people. 5 out of 5 stars 4. A Hmong mother, Foua took it upon herself to perform a marriage ceremony for the author of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”, Anne Fadiman. ” Analysis. For example, the Hmong maintain that each person contains a finite amount of blood, so any blood extraction is viewed as dangerous. Foua's husband Nao Kao attended each birth. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, it's one of the most effective campaigns the camp has. By far the most common cause of illness is soul loss. S. " (3. Upset because he "perceived the doctors' comments [. 17-18 Ch. For those who did leave, the toughest part of. “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anna Fadiman tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose life could have been different if only her family was caught up in western medicine. Analysis. Accepting that soul loss causes most physical illnesses, they think the invisible soul and the visible body are intertwined. Learn how to create in-text citations and a full citation/reference/note for The s pirit catches you and you fall down by Anne Fadiman using the examples below. “ […. However, he now wonders if it might have been better to keep Lia's prescriptions more consistent so that her parents could more easily comply and so that they would. The TV was off, a candle had. When the United States military withdrew from Laos, former North Vietnamese forces came in to occupy the villages. "--Linnea Lannon, The Detroit Free Press "This is a captivating riveting book--a must-read not only for medical professionals, anthropologists, and journalists, but for anyone. They also knew, in the midst of their grief for their infant daughter, that people. Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (Noonday Press, 1997) is widely used in "cultural competence" efforts within U. By ANNE FADIMAN. explores and documents how cultural barriers between the Hmong parents of Lia Lee and. “Don’t do that, there’s a good boy,” said Martin, addressing the little girl in English, of which she did not speak a word. Share to Reddit. medical school curricula. In response, Lia's eyes rolled up, her arms jerked over her head, and she fainted. The author of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down. When Anne first meets Lia 's parents, Foua and Nao Kao, she's nervous as an outsider about gaining their trust. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down 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. Foua Yang is a Hmong American woman living in Merced, California, with her husband Nao Kao Lee and their family. The high stakes of medical care increase the need for strong. One case involving the Lees' young. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Jeanine Hilt Character Analysis. I think people would really enjoy this book. Read the Review. ”. 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. Unlike violence, death, and exile, Lia's medical catastrophe is not a tragedy the Lees expect. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down 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. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. At this point, [Lia’s sister], who was three at the time, ran over to Lia and started banging her on the chest. . Lia ’s father and Foua ’s husband. Lia Lee began suffering seizures at a young age and was diagnosed with epilepsy by American doctors. The family has two pigs to sacrifice—one for them and one for Lia—as well as a host of tasty Hmong food. She had epilepsy and struggled with American medicine because she did not speak English. At the last minute, the wife changed her mind and cut the family down. Upset because he "perceived the doctors' comments [. Sukey’s business card read, in Hmong and Lao, “Fixer of Hearts. The book is about a young Hmong child named Lia Lee. Bill is a veteran of the Peace Corps with a passion for learning about other cultures, and he was once the chief resident at MCMC. Anne Fadiman’s book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, tells the story of an epileptic Hmong child and her collision of two cultures. Chapter 17 - The Eight Questions (Cont. They are animists who believe spiritual forces affect the natural world. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in order to consider divides between Hmong and American culture. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. Downloadable / Printable Version. The story is about a series of episodes of miscommunication, misinterpretations, disagreements between Lia’s parents and the. When the Lees left Laos, Foua explains, at least they hoped for a better future. However, I have come to believe that her life was ruined not by septic shock or noncompliant parents but by cross. S. Hmong residents ask her if American doctors eat the organs of dead patients. Neil and Peggy 's son receives a cancer diagnosis, and Peggy and Foua mourn together, bonding over the pain of having a sick child. A free summary of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Although Jeanine works for the government, she manages to establish a connection with Nao Kao. In California's Central Valley agricultural town of Merced, Hmong Americans make up one fifth of the population. Chapter 1 - Birth. They recognized the symptoms as qaug dab peg, "the. Though Lia's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. The Spirit Catches You Exam. Everything you need for every book you read. (Fadiman, 2012. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down explores issues of culture, immigration, medicine, and the war in [Laos] with such skill that it's nearly impossible to put down. • Chapter 1 - Birth. Seventeen years later Foua and Nao Kao have continued to resist. At first they stay with relatives in Portland, Oregon. Chapter 10 - War. Nao Kao can tell that this one is serious, so he calls an ambulance for the first time. (approx. Back then the dude worked eighteen hours a day and still couldn't make ends meet. There is a moment of final suspense when Nao Kao tries to take Lia from the hospital before she is discharged. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, it's one of the most effective campaigns the camp has. Their selection of this town is largely because of the influence of Dang Moua, an energetic Hmong American businessman. “Don’t do that, there’s a good boy,” said Martin, addressing the little girl in English, of which she did not speak a word. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 1 Why did Nao Kao call an ambulance the night of Lia's big seizure? He thought that arriving in an ambulance would cause the doctors to pay more attention to Lia. The doctors prescribed. The Lees thought Lia had been taken from them to punish them for noncompliance. Fadiman continues to examine the arrival of the Hmong in California, rehashing some of her earlier ideas about xenophobia and welfare. In one story, he offers his home to two sisters, one good and one snotty. Analysis. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. 3). Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis. "The spirit catches you and you fall down" is the literal translation of the Hmong name for epilepsy, qaug dab peg. Despite the careful installation of her soul during the hu plig ceremony, the noise of the door had frightened out of Lia’s body, and it became lost. The Lees knew immediately what had happened. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. And it gets worse. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Fadiman A. Explain the meaning of the book's title. She's rushed to the hospital, where the doctors learn that the Lees are finally giving Lia the right amount of medication. “I have always felt that the action most worth watching is not at the center of things but where edges meet. This Study Guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Analysis. Unlike her fellow. 15-16 Ch. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Chapter 5: Take as Directed. E. Summary. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Quiz 3. In an intermediate French class at Merced College, the students were asked to give a five-minute oral report in French. Midterm: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down It is a story about a family who shows so much loyalty to their traditions and cultures, but it clashes with the strict American “norm” and creates conflict for their most prized possession, their daughter. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Analysis. When Lia was around three months old, her older sister Yer slammed a door and Lia had her first seizure. I like shorelines, weather fronts, international borders. On the other hand, Epilepsy is referred to as a neurological. When he received the call, he "drove to MCMC as fast as he could" (11. Taylor, J. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down study guide contains a biography of Anne Fadiman, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. We learn that the Hmong have very different birthing traditions; that they believe in evil spirits called ‘dabs’; and these spirits can steal that they believe a baby’s soul. What had occurred was known as qaug dab peg in Hmong (translated as "the spirit catches you and you. Some of these perceptions are. taboo: against blood tests, spinal taps, surgery, anesthesia, and autopsies— the basic tools of modern medicine— seemed like self-defeating ignorance. They first tried to flee in 1976, but were captured by Vietnamese soldiers and marched back to their village at gunpoint. At the same time, it is considered. Although this book has been incorporated into standard curriculum in the university and medical school training settings, consideration of how The Spirit. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. Analysis. Answering a question posed to her by a bigoted gas station clerk, she determines (in retrospect) that the reason the Hmong chose to settle in Merced has to do with Dang Moua, a local Hmong entrepreneur and businessman who. Even though she had a dirt floor, she would have been very careful to never allow her to. From the creators of SparkNotes. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down moves from hospital corridors to healing ceremonies, and from the hill country of Laos to the living rooms of Merced, uncovering in its path the complex sources and implications of two dramatically clashing worldviews. and Peggy even allowed her to pour some noxious green liquid down the child’s nasogastric tube on the belief that Lia was going to die. But the families—who don't trust hospitals or medical staff—are skeptical of her. 2. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. Peggy Philp. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. A family practice resident at Merced Community Medical Center who is interested in Hmong culture. Recorded on these tapes are the many conversations she had with American doctors and the Lee family, who came to the United States from Laos as refugees in 1980. Pediatricians Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp—the doctors in charge of Lia's case—keep detailed notes on her condition over the years. Peggy Philp Character Analysis. Lia, on the other hand, is born in sunny Merced, California on July 19, 1982 (yes, we've flash. 17). Reviews Book Excerpts Media About the Author Reading Guide. 24 Nov 2023. Their journey in The Spirit Catches You reveals a great deal about the challenges they face—and they benefits they enjoy—as the younger generation of Hmong-American immigrants. Explanation and Analysis: Unlock with LitCharts A +. [5] ): a Hmong child born in Merced, California, in 1982. Web. CHAPTER ONE. The book suggests no doctor can be completely impartial. Having immigrated with Foua and the rest of their family to America from Laos, Nao Kao is a devoted father who advocates strongly for Lia, often allowing his strong temper and stubborn disposition to dominate the interactions he has with doctors and social. 1-2 Ch. Chapter 12 shows violence, starvation, and death became normalized for Hmong refugees in a way few Americans can understand. Unlike other doctors, Fadiman points out, Neil Ernst remained unbending in his care for Lia, ultimately unwilling to compromise the quality of his services to accommodate Foua and Nao Kao ’s beliefs or abilities. It's a bad scene. Though Lia 's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. On the one hand, the Lees had every right to exercise their beliefs. There are still "tens of thousands" of Hmong in Laos (12. Neil's decision to send Lia into foster care throws a wrench into things, devastating Nao Kao and Foua and nearly breaking their family apart. Even things we take for granted like electricity and refrigeration are new to them. This article addresses the relationship between theory, narrative form, and teaching through a close critical. 1617 Words | 7 Pages. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. The non-fiction book offers a skillfully written depiction of the plight of the Lee family, one of many Hmong refugees absorbed into the United States followingIn Hmong culture, however, epilepsy is known as qaug dab peg, which is translated as "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (that's right, the title). Publisher's summary. Neil is at home when Lia arrives at the hospital. We learn that the Hmong have very different birthing traditions; that they believe in evil spirits called ‘dabs’; and these spirits can steal that they believe a baby’s soul. When two cultures collide in defending their beliefs on western medicines versus spiritual practices, the life of a young Hmong girl hangs in the balance in Anne Fadiman’s 1997 book, The Spirit. 24). A fun and humorous chapter by chapter summary broken into tasty tidbits that you can digest. Talking to Fadiman later, she and her husband tried to describe what it was like to see Lia in such a terrible state. By ANNE FADIMAN. Lia neither died nor recovered. A Summary of National Trends, Department of Health, Durham University, Department for Education. Lia 's family celebrates her permanent return home in April 1986 by sacrificing a cow. MonkeyNotes Study Guides Download Store-Downloadable Study Guides/Book Summary,Book Notes,Notes,Chapter Summary/Synopsis.