The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
Anne Fadiman
ISBN# 0-374-52564-1
Anne Fadiman
ISBN# 0-374-52564-1
When I picked this book off a popular book club list I thought it was fiction, which I gravitate too most often, but in actuality it was a true story. It is about a little girl, Lia Lee who was born to Hmong immigrants in California. At the age of three months she showed signs of what the Hmong call quag dab peg (the spirit catches you and you fall down) or what we in the west call epilepsy. The story is an amazing study into a profound clash of cultures. The Hmong family clearly needed help and intervention with their daughter's condition, however never new he road before them would result in both Lia being removed from them by the state and unfortunately in the end Lia's brain death. The believed the western medicine was her ultimate demise. They believed a dab or evil spirit had stolen Lia's spirit as their own.
I found this story to be profoundly sad. The chapter detailing Lia's final seizure which killed her brain actually caused me to sweat profusely, become dizzy and finally put the book down for a break. The history of the Hmong searching for a place to belong was bittersweet as they had found a place to settle in peace but were far from at peace with a governmental system who views them as parasites to the "system" instead of the hard working, insightful people they were. Also a glimpse into a shameful health care system made my heart ache for the disadvantaged, which in some case seems to be anyone without a medical doctorate. There were a lot of tragic occurrences in this book and the author did a wonderful job exposing you to so much in an unbiased way. She played both sides of the fence brilliantly.
The book challenged me on two levels. First cross cultural understanding, one of my favorite studies on earth. This book just gave me more information about the basis of comprehending not only the Hmong but any culture which is different than my own. Secondly health care. I am stunned at the level of discord between doctor and patient. I am challenged to challenge any doctor who God should have come in contact with me to value my soul as well as my body!
This was an excellent book. It was a little slow in the beginning as I got use to how Anne Fadiman was presenting the story, but ultimately I found myself totally engrossed. A highly recommended read!
I found this story to be profoundly sad. The chapter detailing Lia's final seizure which killed her brain actually caused me to sweat profusely, become dizzy and finally put the book down for a break. The history of the Hmong searching for a place to belong was bittersweet as they had found a place to settle in peace but were far from at peace with a governmental system who views them as parasites to the "system" instead of the hard working, insightful people they were. Also a glimpse into a shameful health care system made my heart ache for the disadvantaged, which in some case seems to be anyone without a medical doctorate. There were a lot of tragic occurrences in this book and the author did a wonderful job exposing you to so much in an unbiased way. She played both sides of the fence brilliantly.
The book challenged me on two levels. First cross cultural understanding, one of my favorite studies on earth. This book just gave me more information about the basis of comprehending not only the Hmong but any culture which is different than my own. Secondly health care. I am stunned at the level of discord between doctor and patient. I am challenged to challenge any doctor who God should have come in contact with me to value my soul as well as my body!
This was an excellent book. It was a little slow in the beginning as I got use to how Anne Fadiman was presenting the story, but ultimately I found myself totally engrossed. A highly recommended read!
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