The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down written by Ann Fadiman is about a Hmong child, Lia Lee, that has epilepsy. Between the ages of 8 months and four and a half years, the Lees brought Lia to the hospital dozens of times. 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. Her American doctors had a strict and rigorous. 31). 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. Like. S. 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. 5). The narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. Looks like you're viewing this page on a mobile device. 00 Carol A Redding, MA, is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and an InformationSummary. Chapter 12 shows violence, starvation, and death became normalized for Hmong refugees in a way few Americans can understand. Fadiman notes that many Hmong believe spinal taps are “potentially crippling both in this life and in future lives. At 3 months old she started showing signs of severe epilepsy. The teacher's language has a rational detachment similar to the tone of the medical notes on Lia 's case. 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. Like Shee Yee, they are courageous and tenacious, and will fight or flee rather than surrender. medical school curricula. Fadiman A. 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. 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. Just after she finished eating, her face took on the strange, frightened expression that always preceded a seizure. Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. Dan is devoted to learning about the Hmong people, even inviting various Hmong. The book was written by Anne Fadiman, a journalist with some serious pedigree. “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” began by setting the tone of the baffling multifaceted clashes that occurred in Merced, in Central California. Summary. Summary. Afterwards, Foua maintained that Lia got more and more sick because the doctors. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. In the Lees' view, Lia's soul had fled her body and become lost. Download. Who now lives in America, but still manages to head a rebel group. Chapter 10 - War. When Lia Lee's sister slammed the front door to their Merced, California, apartment, Lia experienced her first in several years of increasingly severe seizures. Like their patients, they have biases. One of Lia ’s primary doctors, and Neil Ernst ’s wife. What listeners say about The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Average customer ratings. The spirit catches you and you fall down by Annie Fadiman is a story about Hmong girl named Lia Lee, who is epileptic. 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, she couldn’t save their only son or her husband. Fadiman is accurate and detailed in her digressions about the Hmong people and their history in China and Laos. The best study guide to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. Yikes. Thing weren't quite so rosy when he "used to live in Richmond, Virginia" (16. Share to Pinterest. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 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 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. Chapter 3: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 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. One case involving the Lees' young. Peggy Philp. She slept in her parents’ bed a slight, silent husk. 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. Neil Ernst. Now we know where the overbearing-and-oppressive idea comes from. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Quiz 3. Chapter 7: Government Property. In response, Lia's eyes rolled up, her arms jerked over her head, and she fainted. Dee falls in love with Lia and cares for her like her own. Although Jeanine works for the government, she manages to establish a connection with Nao Kao. Analysis. Chapter Summary for Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, chapter 10 summary. 1-2 Ch. Misunderstandings and disagreements manifested in day-to-day interactions reveal. She remarks that, even though these recordings have already been transcribed. Although The Spirit Catches You is all about Lia, there's not much actually about Lia within its. Hmong Studies Journal, 2004-05, 5: 1-36. Archives of . Summary and Analysis of Chapter 13 of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Nonetheless, when she came back inside after watching the family sacrifice a pig in the parking lot, the room’s atmosphere had changed. But the families—who don't trust hospitals or medical staff—are skeptical of her. 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. Every other chapter shares some aspect of Hmong history or culture: food, clothing, language, family structure, birthing rituals, and so on. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. The timeline below shows where the character Arthur Kleinman appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. • Chapter 3 - The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Illness had come when the wife of a wicked god named Nyong laid an egg full of dabs. Fadiman is skeptical at first: the txiv neeb (shaman) is kinda goofy, and the whole solemnity of the thing is. On November 25, 1986, the day before Thanksgiving, Lia was eating as normal when she began to seize. EDSE 460. Bill didn’t assign blame to Neil for not catching the sepsis. Lia has her first seizure when she is three months old. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. She was the only one in her family to be born outside of Laos. 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. LitCharts LLC, 18 Sep 2017. 19 - Afterword Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Metaphors and Similes Irony Imagery Cultural. From the creators of SparkNotes. Write a 350-word summary of the chapter that includes the following: Identify the historical events or cultural practices in your selected chapter. In 1985 Mao Thao, a Hmong American woman, visits Ban Vinai—a refugee camp in Thailand. Summary. Analysis. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. Her parents call an ambulance, fearing the doctors won't give her immediate attention otherwise. 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. 2) Title alert! Again, it's important to remember that epilepsy isn't necessarily a bad thing in Hmong culture. Social Media Book Review by Chirag Mitra ,No 18533168,MPH&MHA, Social And cultural Perspectives of Health,La Trobe university,Summary and Analysis of Chapter 14 of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. After spending eleven days at Valley Children's Hospital, Lia returned to MCMC on. Foua carried her in a large, embroidered nyias, or baby carrier, preferring it to the wheelchair provided by the Merced County Health Department. Animal sacrifice, a reverent occasion for the Hmong, is more difficult in America but still part of Hmong American life. Unlike violence, death, and exile, Lia's medical catastrophe is not a tragedy the Lees expect. Chapter Summaries Chart. 3-4 Ch. Analysis Of Midterm: The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down 1960 Words | 8 Pages. Reviews Book Excerpts Media About the Author Reading Guide. The Lees thought Lia had been taken from them to punish them for noncompliance. Contrary to the belief that the qualities of one side do not merge with those of the other, however, it. Foua and Nao Kao knew when a seizure was coming on, because Lia knew. Compared to the polite and nonintrusive methods of the txiv neeb s, American doctors' methods are frightening. Chapter. These questions are used to convey a patient. This chapter jumps forward in time three years since the end of Chapter 13. 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 even-numbered explanatory chapters often begin or end with a Hmong folktale illustrating an important aspect of the culture. Analysis. When Fadiman told Foua that she’d gotten engaged, Foua was not surprised at all. Chapter 13 represents the falling action of Lia's story as the family adjusts to the reality of her fate. 1-2 Ch. Analysis. Read the Review. 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). Martin Kilgore Character Analysis. Although Dee Korda turns out to be an amazing foster mother (and friend to the family), Lia's condition only worsens after being placed into foster care. Naturally, they go through some serious culture shock. Lia Lee Character Analysis. Anne Fadiman. 9-10 Ch. These stragglers form several rebel groups, one of which is led by Vang Pao. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. I like shorelines, weather fronts, international borders. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between. 2. While commonplace in Hmong culture, Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of ritual sacrifice, especially when it is in the public domain. Her record nearly always noted the communication difficulties brought about by language differences. 45. 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. A young Hmong man gave a presentation about how to make fish soup. They now treat illnesses in their family at home. This chapter explains how the Hmong figured into the Vietnam War and American troops fighting there. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. 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. Lia Lee suffered from seizures and eventually becomes vegetative for the rest of her life. Foua carried her in a large, embroidered nyias, or baby carrier, preferring it to the wheelchair provided by the Merced County Health Department. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. Yikes. The next day, the Hmong brought their dogs in so fast that the health workers had their hands full. Chapter 15 Quotes. 17). Summary See All. They spoiled her and treated her like a princess, believing that her epilepsy marked her as special and that she might someday. 5 Running Head: The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down contributied to the developed of postcolonial theory. Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. • Chapter 4 - Do Doctors Eat Brains? • Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 19 - Afterword Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Metaphors and Similes Irony Imagery Cultural. When Lia first returned home from her time in foster care, everyone was elated. Why do you think the author included them? 3. " 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. Regardless, both parents still blame the hospital for Lia's condition. 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. 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. 5). Lia’s doctors ascribed her seizures to the misfiring of her cerebral neurons; her parents called her illness, qaug dab peg–the spirit catches you and you fall down–and ascribed it to the wandering of her soul. The book also details Hmong culture, history, and their life as refugees. 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. ) 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. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down is a work of literary nonfiction that chronicles the life and medical troubles of Lia Lee, a young girl from Merced, California. 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, suspicious, stubborn, proud, choleric. Get the summaries, analysis, and quotes you need. 11-12 Ch. A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. 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. The phrase indicates the way the Lees, a deeply spiritual Hmong American family, think of. She acted as if she didn't know people, and she could only speak a little. 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 Hmong community in Merced grows even more distrustful of. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. 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. A family practice resident at Merced Community Medical Center who is interested in Hmong culture. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 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. By now, Lia has been seizing for almost two hours. • Preface. She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. We watch Lia, the little Hmong girl diagnosed with epilepsy, slowly fade from. When the Lees left Laos, Foua explains, at least they hoped for a better future. . 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. The snotty sister insults him, calling him dirty and ridiculing his poverty. Now we know where the overbearing-and-oppressive idea comes from. 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. This case study illustrates and analyzes the tension an ESL science teacher encountered when his science curriculum came into conflict with the religious and cos-mological beliefs of one of his Hmong immigrant students. It has sold almost 900,000 copies, according to its publisher, Farrar, Straus. Hmong residents ask her if American doctors eat the organs of dead patients. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. In response, Lia's eyes rolled up, her arms jerked over her head, and she fainted. For example, the Hmong maintain that each person contains a finite amount of blood, so any blood extraction is viewed as dangerous. Taylor, J. Overall. And it gets worse. • Chapter 3 - The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. CHAPTER ONE. She explains that Foua and Nao Kao, like many older Hmongs, didn’t speak any English after 17 years of living in the United States. 2 pages at 400 words per page) It is no surprise that Fadiman obsessed over the idea that the gulf between Hmong culture and Western medicine might be “unbridgeable,” since the very aim of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is to examine the missed avenues of communication in a disastrous instance of cross-cultural misunderstanding. Ge, one of Nao Kao and Foua's daughters, dies after they arrive at a refugee camp in Thailand. The first paragraph focuses on why Lia’s birth is so different than her siblings. He always called an ambulance when Lia had a seizure. Arthur Kleinman Character Timeline in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Chapter 7 - Government Property. Chapter 10 describes a defining moment in Hmong history, working together with the defining crisis in Lia 's life that dominates Chapter 11 . On December 18, 1980, Foua and Nao Kao Lee arrive in the United States with their six surviving children. Foua and Nao Kao grow to distrust American medicine almost completely. Chapter Summaries Chart. Young Lia’s health is at risk when the. Lia began having epileptic seizures when she was about three months old. ”. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. A pediatrician who specializes in hematology and child development, she is—like her husband—a motivated person who is most interested in discovering the truth. Neil and Peggy 's son receives a cancer diagnosis, and Peggy and Foua mourn together, bonding over the pain of having a sick child. Web. The Lee family's journey was indeed terrible, but they and their fellow travelers hoped for a better life in the future. Even things we take for granted like electricity and refrigeration are new to them. Neil is at home when Lia arrives at the hospital. the Hmong have established their own. 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. The author begins this chapter with the assertion, “I do not know if Lia would be able to walk and talk today had she been treated by Arthur Kleinman instead of by Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp. “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. A Review By Will Connolly. Her recently-deceased father was a well-respected txiv neeb —or shamanistic healer—who used to seize so. 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 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 is a book by Anne Fadiman about a Hmong family (the Lee’s) that moved to the United States. Lia at the age of three months began to seize, the family had diagnosed her with qug dab peg which also means the spirit. 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. He believed her fate was sealed, because everyone at MCMC focused entire on the seizures. The office in his home—where Fadiman stays while conducting her research—is full of ethnographies of. Pediatricians Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp—the doctors in charge of Lia's case—keep detailed notes on her condition over the years. "TheBestNotes on The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down ". 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 mood declined, however, when the Lees realized how Lia's mental capacity had declined. 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. Free Summary of The Spirit. At this point, Fadiman focuses on the concept of immigration and assimilation. explores and documents how cultural barriers between the Hmong parents of Lia Lee and. The best study guide to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. Nao Kao Lee Character Analysis. The even-numbered explanatory chapters often begin or end with a Hmong folktale illustrating an important aspect of the culture. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. Explain the meaning of the book's title. She. Neil and Peggy are great doctors, but Nao Kao and Foua are not big fans of their seemingly cold and uncaring demeanor. 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. Unlike her fellow. Though Lia's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. 9). 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. The book is crafty in its juggling act between the Lee Family perspective and the MCMC perspective. Terry drops a bomb on her—he believes that Lia had caught "septic shock" while at the hospital, which was the real cause of her health problems (17. Birth. Chapter Summaries with Notes / Analysis. As…. • Chapter 6 - High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. 15-16 Ch. Anne Fadiman, 1997. is our MonkeyNotes downloadable and printable book summary / study guide / booknotes / synopsis / analysis for "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman in PDF format. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Analysis. Lia was admitted to MCMC seventeen times between the ages of eight months and four and a half years. 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. After much debate, a lot of planning, and a ton of help from Jeanine Holt, the doctors finally agree. 1617 Words | 7 Pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Once gone, her soul was captured by a dab, or evil spirit. - both Foua and dad threaten to commit suicide in the period when Lia was in fostercare. 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. Analysis. I think people would really enjoy this book. 1. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. They call her condition qaug dab peg or "the spirit catches you and you fall down. So at least there's that. Chapter 15: Gold and Dross. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. Nonetheless, he asked her to marry him. Exactly what every hospital needs. Culture, or the learned beliefs, values, and behaviors of social groups, leads to major misunderstandings in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. The The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down quotes below are all either spoken by Sukey Waller or refer to Sukey Waller. Just be glad you speak the same language. Lia becomes a minor celebrity at MCMC. 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. 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. S. Print Word PDF. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. Neil apologizes to Nao Kao and Foua with tears in his eyes—Foua thanks and hugs him, while Nao Kao remains cold. He is interested in Hmong culture, though his attempts to connect with the. 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. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. 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. ''. The Big One. Then he hears that Vang Pao (remember, the rebel group guy) is planning to buy land in Merced. Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis. When Lia Lee was about three months old, her older sister Yer slammed the front door. 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. 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 tells the story of treating Lia’s epilepsy, examining her medical experience in Merced in order to consider divides between Hmong and American culture. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 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. 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. She was seen by the staff on countless other occasions that did not require admission. Analysis. In one story, he offers his home to two sisters, one good and one snotty. A shaman might spend. This section contains 495 words. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. When he tosses two water buffalo horns on the floor and they land flat side down he knows the spirits have arrived. In-depth explanations of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down's themes. 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. The Sacrifice. 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. 20). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a 1997 nonfiction book by American journalist Anne Fadiman. 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. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. Two men slaughter the pig, and the txiv neeb marks Lia with the pig's blood to protect her from dabs, or evil spirits. She was interested in investigating the circumstances surrounding Lia's health care but was warned by fellow colleagues. Chapter 9 continues Lia's story, sharing events from both Lia's parents' and doctors' points of view. This Hyperink Quicklet includes an overall summary, chapter commentary, key characters, literary themes, fun trivia, and recommended related readings. They haven't been back since. The teacher's suggestion appears in the narrative as a contrast to the tragic events in May's life. ISBN-13: 9780374533403. 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. Basically, the main difference between Hmong and Western views of medicine is simple—Hmong treat the soul, Americans treat the body. Her parents, Nao Kao and Foua, were Hmong refugees from Laos who. The family would have called in a txiv neeb, a Hmong shaman or traditional healer, if any difficulties arose. Meanwhile, Western medicine is based on the advancement of science and technology. health care and the Hmong in California. These folktales often serve to illustrate some aspect of the character of the Hmong people. They live in Portland for two years before moving to their current home in Merced, California. 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. Foua's husband Nao Kao attended each birth. 14). Analysis. "--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. The. Analysis. 1. 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. Her record nearly always noted the communication difficulties brought about by language differences. Foua. 4. • Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. Fadiman begins the chapter with an autobiography that May, one of Lia’s sisters, writes for a school assignment about her family’s experience fleeing Laos in 1979. In the Hmong language the term for epilepsy is qaug dab peg. Denise Hitchcock. 24). ABOUT THE BOOK Anne Fadiman's seminal work of nonfiction, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, examines the myriad difficulties and complications. Now, instead of living off the land, they're forced to rely on American food drops to survive. . The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. By ANNE FADIMAN. When Lia came home in 1986, Nao Kao and Foua held a sacrificial ceremony in which they killed a cow. Summary 1997 Winner, National Book Critics Circle Award - NonfictionThis Hyperink Quicklet is over 5,200 words and includes an overall summary, chapter commentary, key characters, literary themes, fun trivia, and recommended related readings. Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10. This blog will be a long-term project lasting the duration of the novel, with students needing to make entries about each reading section. Nonetheless, when she came back inside after watching the family sacrifice a pig in the parking lot, the room’s atmosphere had changed. 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. 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. Summary When three-month-old Lia Lee arrived at the county hospital emergency room in Merced, California, a chain of events was set in motion from which neither she nor her parents nor her doctors would ever recover. The narrator—Anne—reflects on her time with the Lees, a Hmong American family living in Merced, California. At the same time, it is considered. Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. The Lees placed her on the mat on the floor where they always placed her at these times. Nao Kao, Blia. ISBN: 0-374-52564-1. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. That is why it is so important to establish an appropriate contact to avoid a situation similar to Lia’s problem. • Preface.