The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Essay Example for Free

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall D avow by Anne Fadi homophile Essay1st chapter reflectionsThis chapter which introduced me to Lias family was enkindle. I was shocked to enunciate that in her mothers country of Laos, Lia would have been born by her mother squatting on the floor They as well as used special created remedies to drub health issues without relying on infirmarys or clinics. It was also interesting to involve how important the Hmong hatful believed in sprits and how their livelihood decisions where decided around the sprit actions. For example, they believed that male sprits held up their house roof, if the males placenta was buried near the central pillar of the house. Lia was until now blessed by the elders because her parents believed that it was a way of protecting her from ever getting sick. If anything, reading this chapter quickly gave me a quick preview of the clash that Lias cultural beliefs will have with the American pay offs when she gets si ck in the future chapters. However, Im hoping that this book will pick up a little faster and have less history moving forward ( existence honest lol)second chapter reflectionsThis chapter started in a class at college it continued to explain how a Hmong student spent extra time on his speech to talk intimately how people make fish soup in his culture. Once I finished the first page in this chapter, I understood that the young man was try to explain to his class that we as humans should be more careful astir(predicate) how we select our foods because we are all connected in divergent ways. However, I didnt pick up whether his class was evoke after he was done with his speech.This chapter preceded to dig deeper into the Hmong history by degreeing their pass away in north China N. China was were the Hmong people was subjected to wars, because they did not wish to be told what to do or how to behave as a people. However, the Chinese did not like the Hmong people and called them degrading names because they wanted to overrule them. In response to this, the Hmong had to migrate many time and the Chinese finally applied enough instancy to over learn them. blush with the takeover, the Hmong people refused to show any respect to the Chinese emperor. Besides all of this history, I have yet to see how this will attract into Lias future health issue.3rd chapter reflectionsThis chapter starts to now focus on Lia and detail her first epileptic seizure that started when she was three months old. It was interesting to read that Lias parents deucedd her seizure on their older daughter slamming the apartments front door. They believed that the front door slamming caused Lias soul to become frightened and garbled from Lias body which triggered the seizure. I soon realized the books title The spirit catches you and you fall down is associated with the word epilepsy. It was also interesting to read that Lias parents saw her illness as a high distinction and a sign th at Lia will grow up to heave a heal sprit in spite of appearance her.It was sad to read that Lia had over twenty seizures before her parents became scared enough to take her to an emergency room at MCMC. At first this hospital had a hard time communicating with Lias parents because they only had a few interpreters and the doctors quickly concluded that Lias illness was because her parents were giving her veterinary medicine. The doctors conclusion was heighted when the baby came to the hospital twice coughing badly and showing signs of pneumonia during which the doctors prescribed antibiotics. Lia was seen the third time by chance with a visit doctor named Dan Murphy and during this visit he wrote a report that stated he did not feel that her parents were not that frightened. Dr. Murphy and his wife quickly became interested in the Hmong people and worked on reviewing Lia previous documented visits.This chapter showed how cultures seen Lias illness differently the American doctors wanted to give medication to cure or book the issue, while her parents thought it meant something special.4th chapter reflectionsThis chapter showed how the Hmong people viewed the American medical system because they did not understand why certain doctor procedures such as parenthood drawing had to be done. It was funny to read that they asked one Hmong women that move overed to Laos about why American doctors ate people livers, kidneys, and brains If anything, I read and understood that there was a HUGE difference between how American and Hmong people saw medical. The Hmong people believed that doctors done nothing but make people worse by invade their body sprits with all the test and medication.5th chapter reflectionsThis chapter returned to Lias illness and explained that she was sent to the hospital seventeen times before he was even five eld old It was sad for me to read how worse the illness was getting and how Lia started to become aware of when she was about to exper ience one. This chapter also highlighted the fact that doctors believed that her obesity contributed to her epilepsy events and it made her endovenous access difficult. However, her parents focused on making Lia fat because they believed that this showed that a child was healthy and extremely taken care of. The hospital staff was also swage because Lias parents would move her in the hospital bed when they were previously requested not to for health reasons. The relationship between Lias parents worsen because the doctors felt that her parents were not giving her the proper needed medication and felt that they were part of the reason why Lias health continued to decline. After many attempts to get the parents on board, to give medication, Lia was placed in a foster care. This chapter was heartbreaking for me because I felt and understood both sides that wanted to care for Lia.6th chapter reflectionsThis chapter explained in detail about how the Hmong people brio in camps, shared ho rrible news about living in America and dealing with the medical system. In my opinion, this chapter sustain how bad the cultural differences split people apart from seeing a common ground and added stress on her US healthcare system because Hmong people only came into the ER when they were gravely ill and not for prevention.7th chapter reflectionsThis chapter explained how much of a power trip people had when it came to offering the best option for Lias health. It was noted that Lia did not do well in a great foster dwelling house and her developmental skills decreased more as she stayed. Her seizures also change magnitude and the only time she started to show so signs of improvement was when she admitted to a hospital in Turlock where the people she was staying with lived. Receiving care in Turlock casued a decrease her medication requirements and her allowed her to return home. However, I felt that if anything, everyone involved in her health care was guessing and using Lia as a test dummy at her expense.8th chapter reflectionsThis chapter was interesting because I was surprised to read that the doctors at the MCMC told the author not to look into Lias cocktail dress because her parents were not friendly. I also thought that the hospital was trying to protect themselves by keep the author in the dark about certain information regarding the handling of Lias health. For example, the hospital kept a end eye by setting up a community meet with the author and the Hmong people through with(predicate) their own nurses aide (who also was Hmong). If my opinion, the author was doomed to begin with because the Hmong people resented the MCMC and any staff that communicated with them. This is why I believe that the author had such a hard time during this meeting with them and a more welcoming one when she went and was introduced by Ms. Waller. This meeting is where the Hmong people opened up and tried to explain their culture to her without bring risky. This cha pter proved that being from a different culture is fine people not respecting other cultures besides their own is what causes these deep miscommunications.9th chapter reflectionsThis chapter was sad. I thought that Lias health was firing to continue to improve after the doctor mentioned that the parents were giving her the correct medicine. However, I wasnt surprised that the Lees thought that the doctors took Lia because they were angry at them. I was shocked to read that she fell off the swing and went back into having bad seizures. I dont think I would have allowed my child to even be on one if he or she had health issues like Lia. Sad to think that her parents thought that their childs troubles were over and that she was going to live a productive and happy life up until this fall. Like everyone else in this chapter, after the tubes and everything, I also saw death coming later on. Im just hoping that she doesnt keep.10th chapter reflectionsOk. This is (again) is one of the th ings I did not enjoy about the book. I dont understand why this extensive history about the Hmong people and Vietman/ American war has anything to do with the previous chapter on Lias health condition. Only thing I learned from this chapter was that the Hmong people really resented the American culture which includes why the Lees has trouble trusting the doctors treating Lia.11th chapter reflectionsThis chapter was the saddest part of the book that I have read thus far. I had to stop midway through the pages because it reminded me so much of my mothers dying struggle when lung cancer ( I cried reading this). I felt every page of this chapter because Lias parents and everyone else that love her wanted to try everything instead of allowing her to pass peacefully. I also can relate to how Lia parents were treated in the hospital because I was in their position where I did not understand what was going on with my mom but the doctors were pressuring me to turn off her breathing machine . I noticed that Lias parents got to a point where they did not care that there were issues between them and the American staff they just wanted their child saved.. I felt the same way during my mothers last rush to the ER because she couldnt breathe. This girl wasnt going to have a long happy life and Im hoping she didnt suffer because of everyone else stubbornness12th chapter reflectionsAnother history chapter and after the previous chapter, I was drained. I understand that hardship that this culture had to endure and I hope that our inbuilt health care system has learned from this little girls mistreatment amongst all parties involved.13th chapter reflectionsSo I started reading this chapter believing that Lia was going home from the hospital in Fresno. I was surprised to read that she was sent back to the MCMC and placed in the pediatric unit. In my opinion, there was nothing left they could do that would not require the poor child to suffer. I wasnt shocked to read that Lias f ather tried to steal his child out of the hospital the attitudes of the hospitals staff, nurses, and Lias parents were so negative that this craziness was bound to happen. Sadly, even with the little girl not functioning, the doctors and her parents enter another struggle to control the fate of Lia. Even though the doctors said she would die soon after leaving the hospital, Im glad that the lee had personal time for closure at their own house because she didnt die yet. I refuse to get into the who was more right.14th chapter reflectionsAnother chapter on their Hmong history This chapter details the issues they had with adjusting to American life and how no one wanted to be on welfare. No comments on my part.. Besides I didnt enjoy this section lol.15h chapter reflectionsThis chapter picked me up, made me sad and made me smile all at the same time. Reading through this made me think how differently her life could have been if everyone around her were open-minded when she first entere d the hospital for treatment. Her current condition is considered a persistent vegetative state but how her parents treated her has not changed. This chapter showed that she is highly still loved and cared for even though she is not aware of anything. But she had a haul of potential to be a much healthier child if both cultures (American Hmong) would have been willing to accept from each one other her health decisions got lost in their hardheadedness16h chapter reflectionsThis chapter discuses history again but focuses on how the Hmong people ended up living in Merced Im not shocked that they created their own community here and cling to each other because I would of done the same thing if I was displaced.17h chapter reflectionsThis chapter refocused Lias case and talked about how much could have been done differently to change her outcome and I agree. I ashamed of the hospital staff that believed that the lees should be grateful because they allowed them $200,000 of unblock medi cal cost( that should never be on a person mind when you talking about saving someones life) and I wish the parents would of learned how to be more open after their childs health issue I see that people STILL want to place blame on Lias condition instead of accepting the fact that everyone placed a role in creating her current health state.18h chapter reflectionsThis chapter shared a lot of my own opinions about Lias case. I do understand that some cultural difference will never be resolved because of the history of mistreatment that has occurred within that persons culture. Our race issues in American is no difference, some people will always see things and their interactions with people as a race problem and nothing more. However, if you work in a hospital helping other people, you need to be able to look beyond that, not take things personally, not judgmental, and be open to learn about the different people that enters the doors for help.19h chapter reflectionsThis chapter showe d that despite Lias current condition, her family still believes that she will change and become a full functioning child again once her soul returns. Finishing this chapter, and reading the author notes throughout the book, I now see that Anne Fadiman started the story split of believing that the doctors at Merced done everything they could to help Lia. However towards the end I felt that the author wanted people to understand the lee family and their hardship with adjusting to living in America and dealing with our health care system.