A little girl who is part of Merced, California’s population of Hmong immigrants. Foua's husband Nao Kao attended each birth. Thing weren't quite so rosy when he "used to live in Richmond, Virginia" (16. The Lees placed her on the mat on the floor where they always placed her at these times. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. Three months after her healthy birth, Lia went into a seizure after her older sister Yer loudly slammed the apartment door. • Chapter 6 - High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. 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. 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. 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. Why do you think the author included them? 3. The spirit referred to in the name is a soul-stealing dab; thus, the Hmong believe that epilepsy has a spiritual origin and should be treated accordingly. Anne updates readers on the book's key figures. They spoiled her and treated her like a princess, believing that her epilepsy marked her as special and that she might someday. 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). Illness had come when the wife of a wicked. The story is about a series of episodes of miscommunication, misinterpretations, disagreements between Lia’s parents and the. Birth. Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis. Their selection of this town is largely because of the influence of Dang Moua, an energetic Hmong American businessman. Although Dee follows "the anticonvulsant prescriptions to the letter," Lia continues to have seizures—more frequently than she did at home, in fact. Chapter 9 - A Little Medicine and a Little Neeb. Afterwards, Foua maintained that Lia got more and more sick because the doctors. Fadiman brings up a program of eight questions designed by. 14). Jonas Vangay Character Analysis. At the hospital Lia's seizure becomes more violent, defeating all the EMTs' attempts to sedate her. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. When she learns that Anne's boyfriend is in town, she decides to "dress [Anne] as a Hmong bride" to entice her bae into popping the question (8. Book Details. Do you feel the author was evenhanded in her presentation of Hmong culture and medical culture? 2. As Lia is being prepared for release, the doctors tell Nao Kao that she will probably die within weeks. The little girl’s name is Lia Lee and she suffers from severe epilepsy at the very young age of 3 months. Chapter 17 - The Eight Questions. 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. Lia is the first Lee child born in an. It was awarded many honors including: A Salon Book Award Winner Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest Boston Book Review 1997 Ann Rea Jewell Non-Fiction Prize A New York Times. The Sacrifice. 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. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. 5). 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. 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. 10). "Sooo much more helpful than SparkNotes. Neil Ernst didn't believe in giving a different standard of care to different patients, which is why he continuously fine-tuned her drug regimen. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. • Chapter 6 - High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10. This chapter jumps forward in time three years since the end of Chapter 13. A family practice resident at Merced Community Medical Center who is interested in Hmong culture. 4. 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. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Dialect obstructions and conviction framework contrasts kept Lia from accepting ideal care, despite the fact that both her family and the specialists did their closest to perfect to help. Accepting that soul loss causes most physical illnesses, they think the invisible soul and the visible body are intertwined. Lia's story becomes the story of the Hmong people, the doctor-patient connection in Western medicine, and the immigrant experience in the United States. The book contains many Hmong phrases and many medical phrases, both unfamiliar to most readers. 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. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman - MonkeyNotes by PinkMonkey. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the riveting narrative of a showdown between modern American medicine and ancient Hmong beliefs, a blow-by-blow account of the battle fought. • Chapter 4 - Do Doctors Eat Brains? • Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. 368 pp. The first chapters introduce the Hmong: both the family who suffers the book's tragedy, and the people as a whole. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them. Summary. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. 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. 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. Summary. Looking back, I feel regret all of the choices, acts and words didn’t get along from the start to minimized the brain damaged of Lia. 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. 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, [1] the Lees, and their interactions with the health care system in Merced, California. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. Anne Fadiman’s book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, tells the story of the clashing of cultures between the Hmong culture and Western culture through the lens of medicine. Chapter 7: Government Property. The book suggests no doctor can be completely impartial. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 1. Chapter 10 - War (Cont. 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. 11-12 Ch. During this time, one of their eight children became ill and died. When the Lee's settled in the United States Foua gave birth to a baby girl named Lia. The family lived in a refugee camp in California, and Lia’s parents treated her with traditional Hmong remedies. Lannamann, Taylor. She would have been live longer with little illness in her body, she would have lived a happier life if the communication barriers got fixed from the start. translating literally to “the spirit catches you and you fall down. 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. The Lee Children. Chapter 12 shows violence, starvation, and death became normalized for Hmong refugees in a way few Americans can understand. Chapter 11: The Big One. 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,. According to Hmong folklore, Shee Yee, the sorcerer who had turned into a tiny red ant and bit the evil dab on the testicle, had spent many years fighting dabs and restoring health to the sick. Analysis. Lia 's family celebrates her permanent return home in April 1986 by sacrificing a cow. Who now lives in America, but still manages to head a rebel group. After hearing more good things about Cali from his brother, Dang Moua buys a cheap car. 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. One of Lia ’s primary doctors (along with his wife, Peggy Philp) at Merced Community Medical Center. It never occurred to Foua and Nao Kao that their children would be in danger once they arrived in America. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. 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. Lia Lee was born in central California’s Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC) in July 1982. Throughout The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Fadiman often references the Hmong’s maximalist worldview, which takes into account all aspects of life and seeks to acknowledge the interconnectedness of all things. According to Chapter 6, medical school rarely equips doctors to deal with populations who believe physical illnesses have spiritual causes. 17). Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. Citation Generator. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. Acclaimed by reviewers, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” won a National Book Critics Circle Award. Shee Yee escaped nine evil dab brothers by shapeshifting into various forms and eventually biting a in the testicles. Upset because he "perceived the doctors' comments [. They both work exceptionally hard and continually go the extra mile for the Lee family. Yikes. Like many shamanic cultures, the Hmong believe that the condition serves as the gateway between our world and the. OCLC. 4. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Fadiman continues to examine the arrival of the Hmong in California, rehashing some of her earlier ideas about xenophobia and welfare. She remarks that, even though these recordings have already been transcribed. 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. 9-10 Ch. In the 1980s, Lia was part of the Hmong population in America who were refugees from Laos. 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. Dee is a gentle, kind person who devotes herself to caring for children. Summary. The Lees knew immediately what had happened. Two men slaughter the pig, and the txiv neeb marks Lia with the pig's blood to protect her from dabs, or evil spirits. Their character proceeded from that. The TV was off, a candle had. James Naas . The Orphan. She remarks that, even though these recordings have already been transcribed. Lia Lee Character Analysis. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 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. That doesn't mean they love her any less, however—she's still their "anointed one" (15. Analysis. Summary. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. Lia has another, even worse seizure three days before Thanksgiving, 1986. Nonetheless, he asked her to marry him. The best study guide to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. Her worst seizures advance to status epilepticus—when she seizes for minutes at a time without regaining consciousness. She slept in her parents’ bed a slight, silent husk. When the United States military withdrew from Laos, former North Vietnamese forces came in to occupy the villages. June 6th, this time for six months. 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. Share to Tumblr. On the one hand, the Lees had every right to exercise their beliefs. After spending eleven days at Valley Children's Hospital, Lia returned to MCMC on. If Lia Lee had been born in the highlands of northwest Laos, where her parents and twelve of her brothers and sisters were born, her mother. 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. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. Yikes. She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. What's crazier is that he does, and a mere week later. Read the Review. At the end of Chapter 12, Fadiman introduces the character of Shee Yee, the hero of the greatest Hmong folktales. Chapter Summaries Chart. From the creators of SparkNotes. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Anne Fadiman wrote a nonfiction book entitled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which is the story of a young Hmong girl named Lia Lee who had epilepsy. Sofia Mejia Chapter 11 Analysis In this chapter of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall. Even though she had a dirt floor, she would have been very careful to never allow her to. 1997 Winner, National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction. Free, fun, and packed with easy-to-understand explanations! The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Nao Kao and Foua arrived at Children’s Valley Hospital after Lia and were troubled to learn about the spinal tap that had been inserted. In The Spirit Catches You, we witness a bona fide communication breakdown after Nao Kao and Foua Lee—two Hmong refugees who can't speak English—bring their daughter Lia to a hospital to treat her epilepsy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1997. Lia 's epileptic crisis is over. 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. Fadiman is accurate and detailed in her digressions about the Hmong people and their history in China and Laos. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. ) 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. Although this book has been incorporated into standard curriculum in the university and medical school training settings, consideration of how The Spirit. In hindsight, Lionel Rosenblatt, the former United States Refugee. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. 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. 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. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in… read analysis of Lia Lee. 1-2 Chapter 1: Birth Lia. The teacher's suggestion appears in the narrative as a contrast to the tragic events in May's life. , 2002). They retaliated against the. This question calls for your opinion, there is no right or worng answer. Lia was born in 1982 in Merced, California. Fadiman relates a story told to her by a French professor who taught an intermediate class at Merced College. Downloadable / Printable Version. The author recalled her introduction to Hmong culture and the Lee family. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 31). Chapter 10 describes a defining moment in Hmong history, working together with the defining crisis in Lia 's life that dominates Chapter 11 . At first they stay with relatives in Portland, Oregon. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. A fun and humorous chapter by chapter summary broken into tasty tidbits that you can digest. 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. She considers what she's learned while researching, writing, and hearing reader reactions. Q. 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. While their children take their father's clan name, Foua follows Hmong tradition and retains Yang—her original clan name—after marriage. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. S. 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. Unfortunately for Lia, her parents are in the same boat. By the time Fadiman meets her. 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 narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. The next day, the Hmong brought their dogs in so fast that the health workers had their hands full. Looks like you're viewing this page on a mobile device. Having given birth to twelve children in her native Laos, Foua and her family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand to escape the dangerous communist forces that had won control of her country in 1975. Explanation and Analysis: Unlock with LitCharts A +. By ANNE FADIMAN. Lia, on the other hand, is born in sunny Merced, California on July 19, 1982 (yes, we've flash. E. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are. S. Analysis. “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. ‘The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down’ is the literal translation of the Hmong terminology for an epileptic seizure. The complicated politics surrounding this war reach back to the Geneva Accords of 1954, when Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam were recognized as independent states in what had been French Indochina. The approximate English translation is "the spirit catches you and you fall down. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. “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. Nonetheless, he asked her to marry him. " In Hmong folklore a dab is an evil spirit that steals souls. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between. As Lia is being prepared for release, the doctors tell Nao Kao that she will probably die within weeks. Neil and Peggy 's son receives a cancer diagnosis, and Peggy and Foua mourn together, bonding over the pain of having a sick child. When he received the call, he "drove to MCMC as fast as he could" (11. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. 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. Everything you need for every book you read. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. 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. Foua and Nao Kao learned to recognize the signs signaling the onset of Lia's seizures, such as twitching. Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. “Lia was almost seven. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. According to Hmong folklore, Shee Yee, the sorcerer who had turned into a tiny red ant and bit the evil dab on the testicle, had spent many years fighting dabs and restoring health to the sick. 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. The Lees endured the trauma of migrating on foot from Laos to Thailand, but Lia 's mother Foua says Lia's illness is more painful. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them. As…. 2. “I have always felt that the action most worth watching is not at the center of things but where edges meet. A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. " (3. Anyway, this sparks a rebellion that goes on for centuries, until the Hmong finally retreat into the mountains. Summary See All. 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. Ge, one of Nao Kao and Foua's daughters, dies after they arrive at a refugee camp in Thailand. 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. Chapter 5: Take as Directed. She. When Lia was three months old her older sister Yer slammed the front door. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. EDSE 460. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is a critically acclaimed book describing the importance of understanding cultural influence on health care and health outcomes. 7-8 Ch. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. Chapter 19: The Sacrifice. 5-6 Ch. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is the riveting narrative of a showdown between modern American medicine and ancient Hmong beliefs, a blow-by-blow account. "--Linnea Lannon, The Detroit. Purpose In this small-scale study, we pre-supposed that The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down wouldThe 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. Fadiman begins by calling attention to a carton of cassette tapes she keeps beneath her desk. Her siblings grew up around her, part of a close-knit family, some excelling in sports and others going to university. The first chapters introduce the Hmong: both the family who suffers the book's tragedy, and the people as a whole. 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. Peggy Philp and Neil ErnstThe 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. Analysis. She had epilepsy and struggled with American medicine because she did not speak English. 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. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. Nao Kao and Foua had always carried Lia to the hospital before, but Nao Kao. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1997. The Lees thought Lia had been taken from them to punish them for noncompliance. 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. Then he presents spirit-money to thank the pig for its sacrifice. Previous Page. When the Lees refuse to give in to their doctors' demands they demonstrate the historical. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Nao Kao and Foua are devastated. Free Summary of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Nothing like medical problems and totally opposite cultures to show you how messed up things. 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. Summary. “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 narrator—Anne—reflects on her time with the Lees, a Hmong American family living in Merced, California. Over two years after Lia's big seizure, she was still alive. . Between the ages of eight months and four and a half years, Lia was admitted to MCMC seventeen times and made more than one hundred out patient visits to the ER and the Family Practice Center. The book chronicles the experiences of the Lee. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Summary and Analysis of Ch. Qaug means to fall over, and peg means to catch. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. doi: 10. qaug dab peg--the spirit catches you and you fall down--and ascribed it to the wandering of her soul. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 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 Lee's, a family that endured hardships, frustration, anger, confusion, and hope while living in the United State's of America. For the Hmong people,. Both Hmong patients and Western doctors have biases about one another. 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. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as ‘quag dab peg,’ which means ‘The spirit catches you and you fall down’ (Fadiman, 2012, p. She remains in a persistent vegetative state for the rest of her life, with a functioning brain stem but little awareness of or response to her environment. The teacher's suggestion appears in the narrative as a contrast to the tragic events in May's life. A doctor living in Merced who invites Fadiman to meet his Hmong patients. In the Hmong language the term for epilepsy is qaug dab peg. 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. When Fadiman ’s boyfriend visited her in Merced, Foua decided that she would help get her married. 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. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. ”. 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. The narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. Previous. No matter how hard he tries, Neil just can't get on Nao Kao and Foua's level. Section One: Chapters 1-4; Section Two: Chapters 5-8; Section Three: Chapters 9-14; Section Four: Chapters 15-19; My Review and Takeaways;. Brilliantly reported and beautifully crafted, The Spirit Catches You and You. Summary. The aura, a sense of premonition common to all. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. 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. " 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. Her full name is used only five times in the narrative. They recognized the symptoms as qaug dab peg, "the. 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. There are still "tens of thousands" of Hmong in Laos (12. ”. She's rushed to the hospital, where the doctors learn that the Lees are finally giving Lia the right amount of medication. Fadiman’s plot revolves around Lia, a Hmong girl born with severe epilepsy, and the. 1 March 2018. What had occurred was known as qaug dab peg in Hmong (translated as "the spirit catches you and you. Naturally, they go through some serious culture shock. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Anne Fadiman, 1997. Summary. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. Unlike violence, death, and exile, Lia's medical catastrophe is not a tragedy the Lees expect. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 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. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. On November 25, 1986, the day before Thanksgiving, Lia was eating as normal when she began to seize. 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. Chapters 1-4: The book begins with background on Lia Lee and the Lee Family. The journalist Anne Fadiman takes you through the maddeningly frustrating journey of a loving Hmong family and their dedicated western doctors. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down 1. 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. Need help on characters in Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down? Check out our detailed character descriptions. Summary. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. the Hmong have established their own. The Hmong had always been Montagnards, mountain people. CHAPTER ONE. The high stakes of medical care increase the need for strong. Compared to the polite and nonintrusive methods of the txiv neeb s, American doctors' methods are frightening. MonkeyNotes Study Guides Download Store-Downloadable Study Guides/Book Summary,Book Notes,Notes,Chapter Summary/Synopsis. This chapter focuses on Lia’s birth and all the Hmong customs that went along with the birth of any child. 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. The. This chapter explains how the Hmong figured into the Vietnam War and American troops fighting there. Neil is a highly intelligent and inquisitive pediatrician who specializes in infections, asthma, and allergies. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down was her first novel, published in 1997. Analysis. Nao Kao and Foua are devastated. When Fadiman ’s boyfriend visited her in Merced, Foua decided that she would help get her married. Now, instead of living off the land, they're forced to rely on American food drops to survive. Chapter 9 continues Lia's story, sharing events from both Lia's parents' and doctors' points of view. ISBN-13: 9780374533403. A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. The timeline below shows where the character Arthur Kleinman appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. Anne Fadiman celebrates the complexity and the individuality of the human interactions that make up the practice of medicine while simultaneously pointing out directions for change and breaking. 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. ISBN-13: 9780374533403. Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis. Read More. , a Chinese emperor named Hoang-ti decrees that any Hmong convicted of a crime will be castrated. 9. 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.