Analysis. From the creators of SparkNotes. They feared that the communists were more apt to threaten their autonomy. Nonetheless, when she came back inside after watching the family sacrifice a pig in the parking lot, the room’s atmosphere had changed. 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. In-depth explanations of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down's themes. Nothing like medical problems and totally opposite cultures to show you how messed up things. They spoiled her and treated her like a princess, believing that her epilepsy marked her as special and that she might someday. The family would have called in a txiv neeb, a Hmong shaman or traditional healer, if any difficulties arose. That is why it is so important to establish an appropriate contact to avoid a situation similar to Lia’s problem. These babies were born at home on a dirt floor. Anne Fadiman’s ethnography . It might be the first time a book focusing on transcultural health care made it onto the New York Times best-seller list. Luckily, Lia ends up in the home of Dee Korda, a woman who fosters several children with special needs. Everything you need for every book you read. One of Lia ’s primary doctors, and Neil Ernst ’s wife. Dan is the first doctor to diagnose Lia as epileptic after seeing her in the throes of a seizure during her third visit to the hospital. Section One: Chapters 1-4; Section Two: Chapters 5-8; Section Three: Chapters 9-14; Section Four: Chapters 15-19; My Review and Takeaways;. Fish Soup. The. Summary. . A young Hmong man gave a presentation about how to make fish soup. The Lees believed Lia had been returned to them because foster care had made her sicker; Neil and Peggy felt that foster care had improved her condition. Hmong residents ask her if American doctors eat the organs of dead patients. If Lia had been born in Laos, her mother would have squatted on the floor and pulled the baby out of her womb with her own hands. Home The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Q & A 1. . Makenzie Griffith EDSE 460 Denise Hitchcock 1 March 2018 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. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. The narrator—Anne—reflects on her time with the Lees, a Hmong American family living in Merced, California. Nonetheless, when she came back inside after watching the family sacrifice a pig in the parking lot, the room’s atmosphere had changed. Neil and Peggy 's son receives a cancer diagnosis, and Peggy and Foua mourn together, bonding over the pain of having a sick child. Preface. 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. S. 47352453. 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. ''. Peggy Philp Character Analysis. • Chapter 3 - The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Because Foua and Nao Kao continued their pattern of noncompliance by neglecting to properly administer the drugs again, she was once more taken away on June 6th, this time for six months. The book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall down by Anne Fadiman is one of the highlights of the Hmong culture and the challenges socializing a family from Laos faces in American society. When Lia came home in 1986, Nao Kao and Foua held a sacrificial ceremony in which they killed a cow. E. When Lia was around three months old, her older sister Yer slammed a door and Lia had her first seizure. Anyway, this sparks a rebellion that goes on for centuries, until the Hmong finally retreat into the mountains. She considers what she's learned while researching, writing, and hearing reader reactions. 4. Neil apologizes to Nao Kao and Foua with tears in his eyes—Foua thanks and hugs him, while Nao Kao remains cold. She lay suspended in time, growing only a few inches, gaining little weight, always looking far younger than her age, while her six siblings grew up around her. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose tragic demise reveals the dangers of a lack of cross-cultural. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is based on a true story that involves the collision of American and Hmong cultures. • Chapter 1 - Birth. When the Lees left Laos, Foua explains, at least they hoped for a better future. As a philosopher, Renan contributes to the social work profession and this perspective by helping make sense of the world regarding race and ethnicity and how dominance negatively impacts disadvantaged populations This theory focuses on the. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. 20). Lia neither died nor recovered. ISBN: 0-374-52564-1. ) When the author took Selvidge’s information to Neil Ernst, he said that if he’d thought that Lia was septic, he would have done a lumbar puncture. 3). 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. Fadiman’s plot revolves around Lia, a Hmong girl born with severe epilepsy, and the. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Taylor, J. Unlike her fellow Americans (Dee not included, obvs), this social worker falls in love with Lia and her family, making their plight her personal crusade. Summary Of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Fadiman 1860 Words | 8 Pages The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, explores cultural competence, ethics in medicine, and the provision of culturally competent health care in the United States by following a family of Hmong culture in their struggles with mainstream. Makenzie Griffith EDSE 460 Denise Hitchcock 1 March 2018 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. Brilliantly reported and beautifully crafted, The Spirit Catches You and You. They haven't been back since. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, American journalist Anne Fadiman examines the intense collision between American and Hmong cultures through the case of Lia Lee, a Hmong child, who is too young and too sick to speak for herself. Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. Chapter 3: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 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. Quag Dab Peg in Hmong culture is caused by a bad spirit (dab’s). Fadiman relates a story told to her by a French professor who taught an intermediate class at Merced College. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose tragic downfall reveals the dangers of a lack of cross-cultural communication in the medical profession. The best study guide to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. As…. When Lia returns home the family is overjoyed to have her in their beds once again. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. Examine and describe how these differences create disparities between U. • Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. Fadiman considers the fact that the Hmong view health concerns as not only relating to the body, but also relating to everything else in their lives. One of Lia ’s primary doctors (along with his wife, Peggy Philp) at Merced Community Medical Center. . Upset because he "perceived the doctors' comments [. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. 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. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. Clapsaddle, Diane. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Buy Study Guide The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary and Analysis of Ch. One night, Foua tells Anne about their life back in Laos. By 400 C. 18). • Preface. “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” is the story of a Hmong family living in Merced, California and their Daughter, Lia, who has severe epilepsy. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman Summary. The mood declined, however, when the Lees realized how Lia's mental capacity had declined. They recognized the symptoms as qaug dab peg, "the. Anne Fadiman, 1997. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. The approximate English translation is "the spirit catches you and you fall down. This chapter explains how the Hmong figured into the Vietnam War and American troops fighting there. 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. Lia ’s father and Foua ’s husband. Summary: 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. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. Analysis. By far the most common cause of illness is soul loss. Medical, Racist, and Colonial Constructions of Power: Creating the Asian American Patient and the Cultural Citizen in Anne Fadiman’s . Analysis. Although The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down may sound like the debut album from an obscure EDM artist, this little non-fiction book has changed the world in more ways than one. Bill Selvidge Character Analysis. Chapter 7 - Government Property. Lia Lee. Chapter 5: Take as Directed. They now treat illnesses in their family at home. Neil admitted that, after all of his efforts and the building of tension before her cataclysmic seizure, he. When he received the call, he "drove to MCMC as fast as he could" (11. 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. Foua carried her in a large, embroidered nyias, or baby carrier, preferring it to the wheelchair provided by the Merced County Health Department. S. 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. 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. This essay, "Cultural Conflicts in Fadiman’s “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down”" is published exclusively on IvyPanda's free essay examples database. Both Hmong patients and Western doctors have biases about one another. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. Overall. Fadiman is also the author of two essay collections. Fadiman relates a story told to her by a French professor who taught an intermediate class at Merced College. One day, while at a school for children with special needs, Lia falls off a swing and has a major seizure. D. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 1. , a Chinese emperor named Hoang-ti decrees that any Hmong convicted of a crime will be castrated. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. Yet again, however, the medical system has the power. "--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. This chapter focuses on Lia’s birth and all the Hmong customs that went along with the birth of any child. Archives of . E. ― Sherwin B. Dee Korda Character Analysis. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down tells the story of Lia Lee, a Hmong child with epilepsy, whose tragic demise reveals the dangers of a lack of cross-cultural communication in the medical profession. Just after she finished eating, her face took on the strange, frightened expression that always preceded a seizure. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. The narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. Description. From the period of spring and summer 1986, around the time of her fourth birthday, Peggy Philp noted in Lia’s chart – nothing interesting – but for the Lees it was one of the richest periods in Lia’s life. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. No matter how hard he tries, Neil just can't get on Nao Kao and Foua's level. In California's Central Valley agricultural town of Merced, Hmong Americans make up one fifth of the population. Nao Kao and Foua are devastated. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. 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. She was seen by the staff on countless other occasions that did not require admission. The author of The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down. Their advice was daunting and they felt her journey lacked promise. We watch Lia, the little Hmong girl diagnosed with epilepsy, slowly fade from. 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 was at one time a clerk-typist at the. " The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997 A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. “I have always felt that the action most worth watching is not at the center of things but where edges meet. The teacher's language has a rational detachment similar to the tone of the medical notes on Lia 's case. The Hmong had always been Montagnards, mountain people. 1-2 Ch. At first she meets with Hmong families at the hospital using a nurse's aide as her interpreter. Like their patients, they have biases. Foua and Nao Kao learned to recognize the signs signaling the onset of Lia's seizures, such as twitching. The narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. 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. 9-10 Ch. The Spirit Catches you and you fall down. Although the assignment called for a five-minute speech, he spoke for forty-five minutes by starting from the very. Analysis. She remarks that, even though these recordings have already been transcribed. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis Next Chapter 4 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Three months after her healthy birth, Lia. The book is crafty in its juggling act between the Lee Family perspective and the MCMC perspective. Her seizures normally lasted only a few minutes, but when she didn't get better, Nao Kao's nephew, who spoke English, called an ambulance. Section Two: Chapters 5-8. Summary. 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. As a metaphor for this, she tells a story about a young Hmong man who, in a presentation. They are animists who believe spiritual forces affect the natural world. When Anne first meets Lia 's parents, Foua and Nao Kao, she's nervous as an outsider about gaining their trust. - both Foua and dad threaten to commit suicide in the period when Lia was in fostercare. “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. Lia's treatment is complicated by Nao Kao's and Foua's inability to speak English, making it all but impossible to communicate with her doctors. On the other hand, though, their failure to administer Lia’s medications had seemingly measurable negative results, meaning that Neil was equally entitled to wield his. A tvix neeb performed the ritual chant with the cow's head sitting on the Lee's front stoop. The Lee Children. A social worker who works closely with Lia and the Lee family. Nao Kao and Foua are devastated. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. 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. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. Despite living alone on the margins of society, however, the Orphan is actually clever, courageous, resilient, and a. Lia ’s foster mom and Tom Korda ’s wife. CPS workers arrived at the Lee house with Sue Xiong , a Hmong interpreter whom. 9). In an intermediate French class at Merced College, the students were asked to give a five-minute oral report in French. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Dee falls in love with Lia and cares for her like her own. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. The next day, the Hmong brought their dogs in so fast that the health workers had their hands full. Chapter 12 shows violence, starvation, and death became normalized for Hmong refugees in a way few Americans can understand. Animal sacrifice, a reverent occasion for the Hmong, is more difficult in America but still part of Hmong American life. Chapter 11: The Big One. A family practice resident at Merced Community Medical Center who is interested in Hmong culture. In 2700 B. Summary. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. Chapter. Chapter Summaries Chart. Illness had come when the wife of a wicked god named Nyong laid an egg full of dabs. (approx. 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. Her family however believed her illness was caused by soul loss (Fadiman 21). When the Lee's settled in the United States Foua gave birth to a baby girl named Lia. Fadiman turns her attention to Hmong history, surveying the origins of their time in Laos, where they dwelt in the mountains at high altitudes in which few other populations cared to live. 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. Now we know where the overbearing-and-oppressive idea comes from. She went to Merced after hearing reports of misunderstandings between medical staff and Hmong patients at the county hospital—the Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC). Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Between the ages of 8 months and four and a half years, the Lees brought Lia to the hospital dozens of times. Print Word PDF. Fish Soup Symbol Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. 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. While working at a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand, Conquergood hosted a parade "led by three important characters from Hmong folktales" that also conveyed some very useful medical information (4. While their children take their father's clan name, Foua follows Hmong tradition and retains Yang—her original clan name—after marriage. 31). She explains how, days after Lia came home. 17). The lack of understanding and communication lead to a medical tragedy for Hmong child Lia Lee. Foua and Nao Kao knew when a seizure was coming on, because Lia knew. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. 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. The doctors believe epilepsy is a pathological process in the brain, while the family believe “the spirit catches you and you fall down”. 5). Her father is furious, while her mother is devastated. Although this book has been incorporated into standard curriculum in the university and medical school training settings, consideration of how The Spirit. A Summary of National Trends, Department of Health, Durham University, Department for Education. Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis. Arthur Kleinman Character Timeline in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Citation Generator. 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. At this point, Fadiman focuses on the concept of immigration and assimilation. However, the Lees become discouraged when they notice Lia's verbal skills have regressed. Jeanine Hilt. Animal sacrifice, a reverent occasion for the Hmong, is more difficult in America but still part of Hmong American life. The story of Lia Lee in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman, explores many struggles people experience when faced with a life-threatening medical conditions. A little girl who is part of Merced, California’s population of Hmong immigrants. Over two years after Lia's big seizure, she was still alive. 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. Nao Kao Lee Character Analysis. Yes, including the pigs (after the sacrifice, that is). She gave birth there to her thirteenth child, Mai. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Afterwards, Foua maintained that Lia got more and more sick because the doctors. And it gets worse. 20). At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches. Like. Her parents call an ambulance, fearing the doctors won't give her immediate attention otherwise. Next. Lia is the first Lee child born in an. Lia 's family celebrates her permanent return home in April 1986 by sacrificing a cow. At the age of three months, Lia Lee had an epileptic seizure. 9. A conversation and reading with Anne Fadiman, author of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors and The Collision of Tw. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Book Report. At 3 months old she started showing signs of severe epilepsy. Fadiman continues to examine the arrival of the Hmong in California, rehashing some of her earlier ideas about xenophobia and welfare. The phrase indicates the way the Lees, a deeply spiritual Hmong American family, think of. 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. 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. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. Neil is at home when Lia arrives at the hospital. Lia Lee was three months old when she suffered her first epileptic seizure. The Spirit catches you and you fall down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman presents a case study of a young Hmong girl, Lia, and her journey with Epilepsy in America. The teacher's suggestion appears in the narrative as a contrast to the tragic events in May's life. Chapter Summary for Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, chapter 10 summary. The author recalled her introduction to Hmong culture and the Lee family. Neil is a good dude and a good doctor, but even he fails to look past his own cultural preconceptions and see the Lees as people. 5). She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. One of the recurring themes of Anne Fadiman’s novel The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the cultural unawareness that is present, not only the American perspective, but the Hmong perspective as well. • Chapter 7 - Government Property. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997 A modern. 17-18 Ch. Exactly what every hospital needs. In “The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down,” Anne Fadiman provides us with her book about two different cultural worlds and how they collide. 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. “ […. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. They grew opium using a technique called. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the story of a Hmong Family, the Lees, their journey to America, and their struggles following their immigration. • Chapter 4 - Do Doctors Eat Brains? • Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. They both work exceptionally hard and continually go the extra mile for the Lee family. In 1973, 150,000 members of the Hmong ethnicity—the Lees included—were forced from their homes after "their country fell to communist forces" (1. By Monica Chiu, PhD University of New Hampshire Hmong. Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. 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’. This article addresses the relationship between theory, narrative form, and teaching through a close critical. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, it's one of the most effective campaigns the camp has. 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. Her recently-deceased father was a well-respected txiv neeb —or shamanistic healer—who used to seize so. Summary. The Orphan. Do you feel the author was evenhanded in her presentation of Hmong culture and medical culture? 2. Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis. The Lee family knew that the noise had awakened a dab, an evil spirit who stole Lia's soul. Acclaimed by reviewers, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” won a National Book Critics Circle Award. 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. Chapter 15: Gold and Dross. Unlike violence, death, and exile, Lia's medical catastrophe is not a tragedy the Lees expect. Neil is a highly intelligent and inquisitive pediatrician who specializes in infections, asthma, and allergies. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. Share to Twitter. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Free Summary of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Summary. 9-10 Ch. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. 3-4 Ch. The story starts with the Lee’s forced immigration to America and talks about Lia being born with epilepsy. 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. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 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). When the United States military withdrew from Laos, former North Vietnamese forces came in to occupy the villages. She went to. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. Fadiman's father is Clifton. One case involving the Lees' young. The snotty sister insults him, calling him dirty and ridiculing his poverty. Chapter 10 - War (Cont. What listeners say about The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Average customer ratings. . On the day before Thanksgiving, Lia had a mild runny nose, but little appetite. In contrast to the Western view, the condition is actually considered a blessing—many shamans, known as txiv neeb, use their seizures to take "journeys into the realm of the unseen" (3. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, it's one of the most effective campaigns the camp has. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. As a way of coping with the grief and uncertainty of Lia ’s medical complications, both the Lee family and MCMC’s team of doctors try to assign blame. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction . In the 1980s, Lia was part of the Hmong population in America who were refugees from Laos. “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. Foua and Nao Kao grow to distrust American medicine almost completely. Over two years after Lia's big seizure, she was still alive. 11-12 Ch. Confronting “culture” in medicine's “culture of no . Her full name is used only five times in the narrative. "--Linnea Lannon, The Detroit. Get all the key plot points of Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on one page. In her case, only Western medicine could've saved her father from colon cancer. Lia has her first seizure when she is three months old. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Fadiman notes that family obligations sometimes put enormous demands on people, such as Jonas Vangay, a community leader who lived with his wife, his three children, his two brothers and their wives, and his brothers' ten children. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. Lia Lee. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as "quag dab peg," which means "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (3. "TheBestNotes on The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down ". ABOUT THE BOOK Anne Fadiman’s seminal work of nonfiction, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, examines the myriad difficulties and complications that arise when two radically. Lia's treatment was complex—her anticonvulsant prescriptions changed 23 times in four years—and the Lees were sure the medicines were bad for their. 13-14 Ch. Jeanine Hilt Character Analysis. Dee falls in love with Lia and cares for her like her own. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 1. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Many shamans—known as txiv neeb—use seizures to commune with the spirit realm. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. • Chapter 7 - Government Property. S. Lia did not die, nor did she recover. Get all the key plot points of Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on one page. They also still celebrated only Hmong holidays, only practiced Hmong religion, and only ate Hmong food. Fadiman, Anne. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. Fadiman rounds out the Lees ’ family story by detailing their escape from Laos. Neil Ernst constantly questioned himself over whether his uncompromising standard of care had actually compromised Lia’s health. Nonetheless, she manages to remain reasonably neutral, not blaming any of Lia’s doctors personally nor Lia’s parents, but rather the aforementioned idea that the cultural “gulf” is “unbridgeable. Chapter Summaries with Notes / Analysis. Blame and Power Theme Analysis. He is interested in Hmong culture, though his attempts to connect with the. He always called an ambulance when Lia had a seizure. Fadiman gives a survey of sacrificial events in Hmong culture,.