Differences In The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down
Having spent my entire childhood living in very small, rural areas of Wisconsin, I was rarely exposed to diversity. My undergraduate education at Loyola University Chicago introduced and allowed me to interact with a range of people from various cultures and ethnicities. This newfound experience taught me that people see and interpret things differently and that cultural beliefs are not the only factors that influence differences in opinion. The community, environment, and even one’s friends can also contribute to the way a person interprets things.
One example is, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,” a book about the struggles faced by the Lee family after emigrating from Laos to America. Foua delivered her 14th child, only this
time in America. During infancy, baby Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy by the American doctors. According to the Hmong culture, the seizures occurred because an evil spirit had captured Lia’s spirit. Due to the differences in the belief system and the large language barrier, it became extremely difficult for the physicians and the Lee family to properly communicate. This extensive miscommunication forced the doctors and the Lees to become apathetic towards each other. In the end, Lia’s seizures became uncontrollable and she was rendered paralyzed and brain-dead. The book consistently explores the question of who was to blame - the doctors who could have saved Lia with the help of their western medicine but didn’t, or her parents who were unable to understand and follow the doctor's English directions and prescriptions.
My family faced a similar situation when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. However, even though my grandmother was unable to communicate in English and had different beliefs based from the Indian culture, the doctors not once became exasperated or inattentive towards her care. During her initial diagnosis, the doctors told my grandmother she had roughly six months. Nonetheless, the treatment and support the exceptional medical professionals provided, helped her live happily for an additional three years. The trusting relationship the medical professionals had built with my grandmother impacted her condition and survival greatly. In spite of the differences between the doctors and my grandmother, they were able to cooperate and work together to efficiently control the illness. This experience has taught me how important it will be for me, as a PA, to not only diagnose and treat my patients, but also develop a trusting relationship with them to improve the quality of care I provide to them.
One example is, “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,” a book about the struggles faced by the Lee family after emigrating from Laos to America. Foua delivered her 14th child, only this
time in America. During infancy, baby Lia was diagnosed with epilepsy by the American doctors. According to the Hmong culture, the seizures occurred because an evil spirit had captured Lia’s spirit. Due to the differences in the belief system and the large language barrier, it became extremely difficult for the physicians and the Lee family to properly communicate. This extensive miscommunication forced the doctors and the Lees to become apathetic towards each other. In the end, Lia’s seizures became uncontrollable and she was rendered paralyzed and brain-dead. The book consistently explores the question of who was to blame - the doctors who could have saved Lia with the help of their western medicine but didn’t, or her parents who were unable to understand and follow the doctor's English directions and prescriptions.
My family faced a similar situation when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. However, even though my grandmother was unable to communicate in English and had different beliefs based from the Indian culture, the doctors not once became exasperated or inattentive towards her care. During her initial diagnosis, the doctors told my grandmother she had roughly six months. Nonetheless, the treatment and support the exceptional medical professionals provided, helped her live happily for an additional three years. The trusting relationship the medical professionals had built with my grandmother impacted her condition and survival greatly. In spite of the differences between the doctors and my grandmother, they were able to cooperate and work together to efficiently control the illness. This experience has taught me how important it will be for me, as a PA, to not only diagnose and treat my patients, but also develop a trusting relationship with them to improve the quality of care I provide to them.