As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. One of Lia ’s primary doctors (along with his wife, Peggy Philp) at Merced Community Medical Center. When she was forcibly taken into a foster home, word spread throughout the Hmong community, reinforcing the idea that American doctors are not to be trusted. For her part, Foua believes that Lia "missed [the. And it gets worse. 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. At age three months Lia had had her first epileptic seizure—as the Lees put it, ``the spirit catches you and you fall down. These stragglers form several rebel groups, one of which is led by Vang Pao. Her full name is used only five times in the narrative. A feast of traditional beef dishes followed the ceremony. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. Neil is at home when Lia arrives at the hospital. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Now we know where the overbearing-and-oppressive idea comes from. 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. Although Lee and her family live in the United States, and thus receive medical care from Westerners, her family believes that Lee’s condition. 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 Lee began suffering seizures at a young age and was diagnosed with epilepsy by American doctors. 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. A free summary of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 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. Lia’s parents cared for her deeply, yet this arguable preventable tragedy still occurred. Like Shee Yee, they are courageous and tenacious, and will fight or flee rather than surrender. Jeanine takes thorough notes about Lia’s circumstances, notes that Fadiman draws upon extensively to illustrate the specifics of the young girl’s story. A doctor living in Merced who invites Fadiman to meet his Hmong patients. Naturally, they go through some serious culture shock. Her record nearly always noted the communication difficulties brought about by language differences. Lia's older sister, Mai, is born in Thailand during this exodus. 7-8 Ch. Chapter 17: The Eight Questions. Accepting that soul loss causes most physical illnesses, they think the invisible soul and the visible body are intertwined. Foua's husband Nao Kao attended each birth. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. 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. They haven't been back since. 47352453. Meanwhile, Western medicine is based on the advancement of science and technology. . Although The Spirit Catches You is all about Lia, there's not much actually about Lia within its. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. Children as young as ten are forced into military service. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down . Over two years after Lia's big seizure, she was still alive. Write a 350-word summary of the chapter that includes the following: Identify the historical events or cultural practices in your selected chapter. Nao Kao and Foua had always carried Lia to the hospital before, but Nao Kao. Brilliantly reported and beautifully crafted, The Spirit Catches You and You. Then he hears that Vang Pao (remember, the rebel group guy) is planning to buy land in Merced. She grew only a few inches, gained only a little weight, and always looked younger than her age. Every other chapter shares some aspect of Hmong history or culture: food, clothing, language, family structure, birthing rituals, and so on. They also still celebrated only Hmong holidays, only practiced Hmong religion, and only ate Hmong food. Back then the dude worked eighteen hours a day and still couldn't make ends meet. . 31). Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. 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,. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as "quag dab peg," which means "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (3. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (1997) is an ethnography written by Anne Faidman. 24 Nov 2023. That is why it is so important to establish an appropriate contact to avoid a situation similar to Lia’s problem. May Ying is a twenty year old clerk-typist at the Merced County Office of Refugee Services when Fadiman first meets her. 17). Within moments following the door's closing, Lia's first seizure commenced. 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. “I have always felt that the action most worth watching is not at the center of things but where edges meet. They recognized the symptoms as qaug dab peg, "the. The narrative, told by Anne Fadiman, follows the trials and tribulations of the Lee family as the U. E. 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. Section Two: Chapters 5-8. • Chapter 7 - Government Property. The aura, a sense of premonition common to all. Clapsaddle, Diane. 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. 1997 Winner, National Book Critics Circle Award - Nonfiction. The family would have called in a txiv neeb, a Hmong shaman or traditional healer, if any difficulties arose. 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. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. The epileptic child whose tragic story illustrates the cultural divide between the Hmong and the American medical systems. Way to conquer, um, incorrect stereotypes about medicine. She was interested in investigating the circumstances surrounding Lia's health care but was warned by fellow colleagues. You'd think Saran Wrap would be less tough to navigate than, say, a brick wall. 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 Analysis. Foua and Nao Kao learned to recognize the signs signaling the onset of Lia's seizures, such as twitching. Nao Kao can tell that this one is serious, so he calls an ambulance for the first time. 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. Fadiman brings up a program of eight questions designed by. 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. Lia was admitted to MCMC seventeen times between the ages of eight months and four and a half years. 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. Although Jeanine works for the government, she manages to establish a connection with Nao Kao. After spending eleven days at Valley Children's Hospital, Lia returned to MCMC on. The little girl’s name is Lia Lee and she suffers from severe epilepsy at the very young age of 3 months. In Hmong culture, epilepsy is known as ‘quag dab peg,’ which means ‘The spirit catches you and you fall down’ (Fadiman, 2012, p. (2003). Despite living alone on the margins of society, however, the Orphan is actually clever, courageous, resilient, and a. Summary. 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. ISBN-13: 9780374533403. , 2002). At the same time, it is considered. Lia was born in 1982 in Merced, California. At first they stay with relatives in Portland, Oregon. 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. Previous. The Big One. Qaug means to fall over, and peg means to catch. The Lee family arrives in America in 1980. • Chapter 7 - Government Property. Even things we take for granted like electricity and refrigeration are new to them. They preferred it to the pediatric wheelchair. At this point, Fadiman finally goes beyond merely suggesting that doctors ask their Hmong patients what they believe is happening to them. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Buy Study Guide The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Quotes and Analysis Dan had no way of knowing that. She considers what she's learned while researching, writing, and hearing reader reactions. 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. Blame and Power Theme Analysis. By Monica Chiu, PhD University of New Hampshire Hmong. Downloadable / Printable Version. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. “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. Jeanine Hilt just might be our favorite person in The Spirit Catches You. " In Hmong folklore a dab is an evil spirit that steals souls. When two cultures collide in defending their beliefs on western medicines versus spiritual practices, the life of a young Hmong girl hangs in the balance in Anne Fadiman’s 1997 book, The Spirit. Preface. • Chapter 3 - The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Chapter 15 Quotes. Yes, including the pigs (after the sacrifice, that is). She was in a "persistent vegetative state," able to breath, sleep, and cry, but showing no signs of self-aware. 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. Neil Ernst. 1-2 Chapter 1: Birth Lia. 19 - Afterword Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Metaphors and Similes Irony Imagery Cultural. Nao Kao can tell that this one is serious, so he calls an ambulance for the first time. The teacher's language has a rational detachment similar to the tone of the medical notes on Lia 's case. Fadiman came to Merced in 1988 after hearing that the hospital was experiencing a swath of cultural misunderstandings and miscommunications with the Hmong community. The Story Catches You and You Fall Down: Tragedy, Ethnography, and "Cultural Competence" Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (Noon-day Press, 1997) is widely used in "cultural competence" efforts within U. Book review for Social and Cultural Perspectives of Public HealthThe timeline below shows where the character Yer Lee appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. 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. Talking to Fadiman later, she and her husband tried to describe what it was like to see Lia in such a terrible state. 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. Things go from bad to worse. 18). The Hmong New Year fell during Lia’s stay at MCMC, but Foua said that it was the only time. Like. 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. The. Though Lia 's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. 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. 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. Lia was the fourteenth child of Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee and arguably their favorite. The doctors prescribed anticonvulsants; her parents preferred animal sacrifices. In response, Lia's eyes rolled up, her arms jerked over her head, and she fainted. These babies were born at home on a dirt floor. Nonetheless, when she came back inside after watching the family sacrifice a pig in the parking lot, the room’s atmosphere had changed. Lia can sense when her seizures are coming. As a writer, Fadiman herself moves in and out of her scenes; in some moments, she describes her conversations with Lia ’s. He always called an ambulance when Lia had a seizure. By ANNE FADIMAN. James Naas . Analysis. Like their patients, they have biases. Downloadable / Printable Version. Martin Kilgore Character Analysis. 5). Ge, one of Nao Kao and Foua's daughters, dies after they arrive at a refugee camp in Thailand. She had epilepsy and struggled with American medicine because she did not speak English. Anne, Chapter 1. Her recently-deceased father was a well-respected txiv neeb —or shamanistic healer—who used to seize so. The Big One. New York: Macmillan. 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. 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. From the creators of SparkNotes. In 1985 Mao Thao, a Hmong American woman, visits Ban Vinai—a refugee camp in Thailand. Language, religious beliefs, and ideas about parental authority all prevent the Lees and their doctors from understanding one another. Find out what happens in our Chapter 1 summary for The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 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 was her first novel, published in 1997. When the Lee's settled in the United States Foua gave birth to a baby girl named Lia. 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. 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. 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. 352 pages; $15. 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. explores and documents how cultural barriers between the Hmong parents of Lia Lee and. Nao Kao gained weight and had high blood pressure, while Foua. Fadiman A. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Book Report. There are still "tens of thousands" of Hmong in Laos (12. Chapters 1-4: The book begins with background on Lia Lee and the Lee Family. According to Chapter 6, medical school rarely equips doctors to deal with populations who believe physical illnesses have spiritual causes. Culture plays a major role in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. We might not know much about the Lee children as individuals, but much like the von Trapps or the. While Lia has a United States birth certificate that includes a time and date. "TheBestNotes on The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down ". Many Hmong people don't trust American doctors. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. Anyway, to everyone's surprise, it's one of the most effective campaigns the camp has. However, he now wonders if it might have been better to keep Lia's prescriptions more consistent so that her parents could more easily comply and so that they would. By 400 C. [5] ): a Hmong child born in Merced, California, in 1982. 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. Fadiman continues to examine the arrival of the Hmong in California, rehashing some of her earlier ideas about xenophobia and welfare. Chapter 17 - The Eight Questions. The approximate English translation is "the spirit catches you and you fall down. 17-18 Ch. Lia neither died nor recovered. Neil Ernst constantly questioned himself over whether his uncompromising standard of care had actually compromised Lia’s health. Analysis. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. …. 15-16 Ch. Acclaimed by reviewers, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” won a National Book Critics Circle Award. Free, fun, and packed with easy-to-understand explanations! The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. The next day, the Hmong brought their dogs in so fast that the health workers had their hands full. Adorbs! Foua, in particular, takes a strong interest in Anne's life. Chapter 5 - Take As Directed. Analysis. In her case, only Western medicine could've saved her father from colon cancer. Bill is a veteran of the Peace Corps with a passion for learning about other cultures, and he was once the chief resident at MCMC. Summary and Analysis of Chapter 13 of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. 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. Lia is the first Lee child born in an. ” In the culture of Western medicine, this is epilepsy. Pediatricians Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp—the doctors in charge of Lia's case—keep detailed notes on her condition over the years. Why do you think the author included them? 3. 10). Summary. Lia is the first Lee child born in an. Analysis Of Midterm: The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down 1960 Words | 8 Pages. Next. 20). Fadiman’s interpreter, or—in Sukey Waller ’s words—“cultural broker. Her parents assumed the noise of the door had caused her soul to flee. Chapter 3: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down The important aspect of this chapter is the two-sided nature of epilepsy among the Hmong. Three months after her healthy birth, Lia went into a seizure after her older sister Yer loudly slammed the apartment door. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. 5-6 Ch. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman Summary. Analysis. Analysis. When he received the call, he "drove to MCMC as fast as he could" (11. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Lia did not die, nor did she recover. Lia Lee Character Analysis. “Lia was almost seven. CHAPTER ONE. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman. Anyway, this sparks a rebellion that goes on for centuries, until the Hmong finally retreat into the mountains. As Lia is being prepared for release, the doctors tell Nao Kao that she will probably die within weeks. 17). Writing both a literary profile and an in. 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. • Chapter 1 - Birth. 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. Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. In the Hmong language the term for epilepsy is qaug dab peg. 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 Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. of 150 and a full-body tan from taking vacations at a nudist camp. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down essays are academic essays for citation. …. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 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. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Bill didn’t assign blame to Neil for not catching the sepsis. 10). 20). 368 pp. Luckily, Lia ends up in the home of Dee Korda, a woman who fosters several children with special needs. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. 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. Chapter 12 Summary: “Flight”. “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. Though Lia 's mother Foua Yang gives birth to Lia in the United States, she delivered 12 children in her native Laos. “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” began by setting the tone of the baffling multifaceted clashes that occurred in Merced, in Central California. It might be the first time a book focusing on transcultural health care made it onto the New York Times best-seller list. In one story, he offers his home to two sisters, one good and one snotty. ”. The narrator—Anne—reflects on her time with the Lees, a Hmong American family living in Merced, California. Summary. 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. 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. There are interesting frictions and incongruities in these places, and often, if you stand at. When the Lees refuse to give in to their doctors' demands they demonstrate the historical. Free Summary of The Spirit. Once gone, her soul was captured by a dab, or evil spirit. 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. 45. Topic: Literature Words: 1378 Pages: 5 Jul 4th, 2022. 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. To make matters worse, Fadiman writes, the Hmong believe that many Western medical practices run the risk of harming patients. " (3. The Shared Qualities of Opposing Sides of a Border: How Cultural Relations can Merge Characteristics between Different. Her family celebrated by sacrificing a cow and inviting many relatives to rejoice with them. " LitCharts. 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. Jeanine Hilt. 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. 0 5 Stars 1,365 4 Stars 425 3 Stars 149. Chapter 13 represents the falling action of Lia's story as the family adjusts to the reality of her fate. Summary See All. read analysis of Fish Soup. 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. by Monica Chiu, Ph. “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 - Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis. 1. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. Just be glad you speak the same language. Analysis. “ […. Read the Review. • Chapter 1 - Birth. S medical system battles with their traditional Hmong healing methods. Chapter 10 describes a defining moment in Hmong history, working together with the defining crisis in Lia 's life that dominates Chapter 11 . 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. Her parents were newly arrived Hmong immigrants from Laos. . Chapter 2 introduces key facts about the Hmong, which place the Lees' behavior in a broader context. When Lia was around three months old, her older sister Yer slammed a door and Lia had her first seizure. Personal and communal crises mirror one another in the plot. 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. A tvix neeb performed the ritual chant with the cow's head sitting on the Lee's front stoop. Chapter 3: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. This book reveals the tragic struggles between a doctor and patient because of. Way to conquer, um, incorrect stereotypes about medicine. On the one hand, the Lees had every right to exercise their beliefs. They're disoriented and confused by new appliances like refrigerators, toilets, and electrical devices. At the age of three months, Lia Lee had an epileptic seizure. Lia Lee was three months old when she suffered her first epileptic seizure. Fadiman focuses on the influence the Vietnam War had on the Hmong community in the 1960s and ’70s. She was the only one in her family to be born outside of Laos. ] as threats," Nao Kao grabs Lia and attempts to flee the hospital (13. 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 by Anne Fadiman is based on a true story that involves the collision of American and Hmong cultures. In Anne Fadiman’s book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, two cultures clash with each other in the struggle to save Lia Lee, a Hmong child refugee with severe epilepsy. Lia 's family celebrates her permanent return home in April 1986 by sacrificing a cow. 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. At the hospital Lia's seizure becomes more violent, defeating all the EMTs' attempts to sedate her. At the age of three months, Lia Lee had an epileptic seizure. The timeline below shows where the character Arthur Kleinman appears in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. CHAPTER ONE. 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. 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. Fadiman begins by calling attention to a carton of cassette tapes she keeps beneath her desk. Beginning in infancy,. Lia's parents and her doctors both wanted what was best for Lia, but the lack of understanding between them led to tragedy. It deals with their child Lia, her American doctors, and the collisions of those two cultures. 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. Nonetheless, he asked her to marry him. After graduating in 1975, she wrote for a variety of publications, including Harper's, Life magazine, and The New York Times. 1-2 Ch. ] as threats," Nao Kao grabs Lia and attempts to flee the hospital (13. Their character proceeded from that. 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 Lees endured the trauma of migrating on foot from Laos to Thailand, but Lia 's mother Foua says Lia's illness is more painful. This blog will be a long-term project lasting the duration of the novel, with students needing to make entries about each reading section. 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: 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. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a tragic true story written by Anne Fadiman, who spent over five years in the middle of a fight between Hmong culture and American medicine. 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. Birth. Chapter 1 - Birth. You can use it for research and reference purposes to write your. Lia ’s father and Foua ’s husband. Do you feel the author was evenhanded in her presentation of Hmong culture and medical culture? 2. Chapter 7 - Government Property. Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 1. When Peggy first saw Lia after the girl’s return from Fresno, she was heartbroken: Lia was hardly alive. Denise Hitchcock. OCLC. • Chapter 2 - Fish Soup. Plot Summary & Analysis Themes Quotes Characters Symbols Theme Viz Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Spirit Catches You makes teaching easy. The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down frequently evokes Hmong history to illuminate the circumstances of Lia Lee ’s medical crisis. Dan Murphy. 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. After hearing more good things about Cali from his brother, Dang Moua buys a cheap car. 24). Shee Yee eventually transferred his powers to human tvix neebs, or shamans, who summon his spirit as they do his work. Analysis. When Fadiman told Foua that she’d gotten engaged, Foua was not surprised at all. In 1993 social worker Jeanine Hilt dies unexpectedly. Even though she had a dirt floor, she would have been very careful to never allow her to. Web. • Chapter 6 - High-Velocity Transcortical Lead Therapy. S. 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. 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. The book is about a young Hmong child named Lia Lee. As an outsider, author Anne Fadiman is our gateway into these proceedings. Foua's husband Nao Kao attended each birth. The Lee family were. com. 2) Title alert! Again, it's important to remember that epilepsy isn't necessarily a bad thing in Hmong culture. 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.