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

The psycheality Catches You and You Fall D aver by Anne Fadiman Essay1st chapter reflectionsThis chapter which introduced me to Lias family was interesting. I was shocked to realize that in her mothers country of Laos, Lia would drop been born by her mother squatting on the knock wipe out They also used special created remedies to solve health issues without relying on infirmarys or clinics. It was also interesting to read how important the Hmong throng believed in sprits and how their life decisions where decided around the sprit actions. For example, they believed that male sprits held up their signal roof, if the males placenta was buried near the central pillar of the endure. Lia was even blessed by the elders because her parents believed that it was a way of protecting her from ever acquire sick. If anything, reading this chapter quickly gave me a quick preview of the shock that Lias cultural beliefs will have with the the Statesn doctors when she gets sick in th e future chapters. However, Im hoping that this book will pick up a little faster and have less memorial moving forward (being honest lol)2nd chapter reflectionsThis chapter started in a class at college it act to condone how a Hmong student spent extra snip on his speech to talk virtually how heap make fish soup in his goal. Once I finished the first page in this chapter, I understood that the young man was trying to explain to his class that we as humans should be more keepingful about how we select our foods because we are all connected in different ways. However, I didnt pick up whether his class was interested after he was done with his speech.This chapter preceded to dig deeper into the Hmong chronicle by detailing their live in north China N. China was were the Hmong muckle was subjected to wars, because they did non wish well to be told what to do or how to behave as a bulk. However, the Chinese did non like the Hmong people and called them degrading names bec ause they precious to overrule them. In response to this, the Hmong had to migrate many time and the Chinese finally applied enough pressure to overtake them. Even with the takeover, the Hmong people refused to show any keep an heart on to the Chinese emperor. Besides all of this history, I have yet to encounter how this will tie 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 blamed her seizure on their older daughter slamming the flat tires front door. They believed that the front door slamming caused Lias thought to become frightened and lost from Lias personate 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 cut her illness as a heights distinction and a sign th at Lia will grow up to heave a healing sprit inside her.It was sad to read that Lia had over twenty seizures ahead her parents became s business concernd enough to take her to an emergency means at MCMC. At first this infirmary had a hard time communicating with Lias parents because they further had a few interpreters and the doctors quickly concluded that Lias illness was because her parents were natural endowment 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 visiting doctor named Dan Murphy and during this visit he wrote a spread abroad that submitd 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 conclusions seen Lias illne ss differently the American doctors wanted to rejoin medication to cure or control the issue, while her parents thought it meant something special.4th chapter reflectionsThis chapter showed how the Hmong people viewed the American aesculapian system because they did not get word why certain doctor procedures such as blood skeleton had to be done. It was funny to read that they asked one Hmong women that returned 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 checkup. The Hmong people believed that doctors done nothing tho made people worse by invading 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 years old It was sad for me to read how worse the illness was getting and how Lia starte d to become conscious of when she was about to experience one. This chapter also highlighted the fact that doctors believed that her obesity contributed to her epilepsy events and it made her intravenous door difficult. However, her parents focused on making Lia fat because they believed that this showed that a fry was healthy and extremely taken do of. The hospital mental faculty was also upset 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 dwelld to decline. After many attempts to get the parents on board, to give medication, Lia was placed in a foster care. This chapter was monstrous for me because I felt and understood some(prenominal) sides that wanted to care for Lia.6th chapter reflectionsThis chapter exp lained in detail about how the Hmong people living in camps, shared horrible news about living in America and dealing with the medical system. In my opinion, this chapter confirmed how bad the cultural differences split people apart from sightedness a common ground and added stress on her US healthcare system because Hmong people stillness 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 byering the best option for Lias health. It was noted that Lia did not do well in a great foster home and her developmental skills decreased more as she stayed. Her seizures also increased and the alone 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 case because her parents were not friendly. I also thought that the hospital was trying to protect themselves by keep the author in the unlighted about certain information regarding the handling of Lias health. For example, the hospital kept a close eye by setting up a community meeting with the author and the Hmong people through 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 thei r culture to her without bring angry. This chapter 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 leaving 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. resembling everyone else in this chapter, after the tubes and everything, I also saw death coming later on. Im just hoping that she doesnt suffer.10th chapter reflectionsOk. This is ( again) is one of the things I did not enjoy about the book. I dont realise 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 so far. I had to stop midway through the pages because it reminded me so much of my mothers last clamber when lung cancer ( I cried reading this). I felt every page of this chapter because Lias parents and everyone else that loved 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 alike way during my mothers last rush to the ER because she couldnt breathe. This daughter wasnt going to have a long happy life and Im hoping she didnt suffer because of everyone else obstinacy12th 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 entire health care system has learned from this little girls mistreatment amongst all parties involved.13th chapter reflectionsSo I started reading this chapter accept 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 father 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 other 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 like time. Reading through this made me think how differently her life could have been if every one around her were open-minded when she first entered the hospital for treatment. Her flow condition is considered a persistent vegetative state but how her parents treated her has not miscellanead. This chapter showed that she is highly still loved and cared for even though she is not aware of anything. But she had a lot of potential to be a much healthier child if both cultures (American Hmong) would have been willing to accept each 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 becaus e they allowed them $200,000 of free medical 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 showed 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 sort 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.