Endeavoring even more on my cultural awareness path, I selected a novel by Anne Fadiman titled, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. The story deals with a Hmong family living in Merced, California in the 1800s. This Hmong family has a daugher diagnosed with epilepsey who very often is treated at the local hospital. However, the Hmong do not speak English and the English speaking doctors do not speak Hmong. Rarely, there is a Hmong translator around to assist in a common understnding among the two parties. Lia, the epileptic Hmong child's seizures begin to occur more often. Thus causing the communication barrier becoming more and more of an issue.
The doctors do their best to teach Lia's parents how and when to give Lia her medications to prevent the seizing. However, the doctor's fail to realize that Hmong tend to use herbal medicines. Also, the Hmong do not know hot to tell time in America, thus, not allowing Lia's receival of medication times to be exactly correct. When Lia acts strange on a medication or does not seem to help, her parents will stop giving her that medication. If a certain medication seems to really work, they will double it.
The doctors are frustrated with the Hmong family and the Hmong family is frustrated with the doctors. Both failing to recognize each other's cultures and beliefs, the solution to Lia's medical condition is no where near being solved.
I can not wait to read further and discover the solution to Lia's illness through the collision of these cultures.
The doctors do their best to teach Lia's parents how and when to give Lia her medications to prevent the seizing. However, the doctor's fail to realize that Hmong tend to use herbal medicines. Also, the Hmong do not know hot to tell time in America, thus, not allowing Lia's receival of medication times to be exactly correct. When Lia acts strange on a medication or does not seem to help, her parents will stop giving her that medication. If a certain medication seems to really work, they will double it.
The doctors are frustrated with the Hmong family and the Hmong family is frustrated with the doctors. Both failing to recognize each other's cultures and beliefs, the solution to Lia's medical condition is no where near being solved.
I can not wait to read further and discover the solution to Lia's illness through the collision of these cultures.
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