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Anne Fadiman's book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, chronicles the story of a young Hmong girl, her family, her culture, and her American doctors.
Lia Lee was born to her parents, refugees of Laos, Vietnam in Merced, CA in 1982. At the age of 3 months, Lia had what was probably her first seizure after her sister slammed a door. She proceeded to have dozens of seizures in her first few years of life, all the while her parents battling with doctors and Child Protective Services about their Hmong culture and beliefs, as well as their compliance with Lia's prescribed treatment. What American doctors would consider epilepsy, the Hmong called qaug dab peg, which means "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (Fadiman 1997:20). They believed that the slamming of the door caused Lia's soul to leave her body.
In November of 1986, Lia had a terrible seizure that lasted for two hours. The episode left her in essence brain-dead, and when her parents insisted on taking her home, her doctors waited for her to die. Upon her arrival home, the Lee family treated Lia with traditional Hmong healing rituals and ceremonies.
Lia lived to the age of 30, dying in 2012. Her story is brought much needed attention to the cultural needs in the Hmong population of Merced, but also to the cultural needs in the entire American medical system.
Lia Lee was born to her parents, refugees of Laos, Vietnam in Merced, CA in 1982. At the age of 3 months, Lia had what was probably her first seizure after her sister slammed a door. She proceeded to have dozens of seizures in her first few years of life, all the while her parents battling with doctors and Child Protective Services about their Hmong culture and beliefs, as well as their compliance with Lia's prescribed treatment. What American doctors would consider epilepsy, the Hmong called qaug dab peg, which means "the spirit catches you and you fall down" (Fadiman 1997:20). They believed that the slamming of the door caused Lia's soul to leave her body.
In November of 1986, Lia had a terrible seizure that lasted for two hours. The episode left her in essence brain-dead, and when her parents insisted on taking her home, her doctors waited for her to die. Upon her arrival home, the Lee family treated Lia with traditional Hmong healing rituals and ceremonies.
Lia lived to the age of 30, dying in 2012. Her story is brought much needed attention to the cultural needs in the Hmong population of Merced, but also to the cultural needs in the entire American medical system.