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343:: Lia’s primary care doctors at MCMC. Throughout the story, they clash with Lia's parents, whose adherence to Hmong shamanism conflicts deeply with their own beliefs about Western medicine. Despite the good intentions of Ernst, Philp, and Lia's parents, significant miscommunication and disagreement cause Lia permanent harm.
460:
by Keith Quincy. She stated "Were I citing the source of each detail, Quincy's name would attach itself to nearly every sentence in the pages on the Hmong in China." Fadiman's book cited the Quincy theory that the Hmong people originated from
Siberia. Entenmann wrote that because of the reliance on
274:
Through miscommunications about medical dosages and parental refusal to give certain medicines due to mistrust, misunderstandings, and behavioral side effects, and the inability of the doctors to develop more empathy with the traditional Hmong lifestyle or try to learn more about the Hmong culture,
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wrote that Lia's parents did not give her medication as it was prescribed because they believed that Lia Lee's state showed a sense of spiritual giftedness, and they did not want to take that away. The
American doctors did not understand the Hmong traditional remedies that the Lee family used. The
403:
The worst seizure Lia had put her on the verge of death. She went to the emergency room and Dr. Neil Ernst could not do anything. He talked to Lia's parents about transferring her to Fresno, California because Lia would need further treatment that Ernst could not provide. Lia's parents believed
282:; American involvement in and responsibility for the war in Laos; and the many problems of immigration, especially assimilation and discrimination. While particularly sympathetic to the Hmong, Fadiman presents the situation from the perspectives of both the doctors and the family. An example of
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488:, on August 31, 2012, at the age of 30. At that age she weighed 47 pounds (21 kg) and was 4 feet 7 inches (1.40 m) tall; many children with severe brain damage have limited growth as they age. Outside of California her death was not widely reported. Fadiman said that
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said "ut Lia’s underlying medical issues were more complex still" because she had lived in a persistent vegetative state for such a long period of time. As of 2012 most individuals who go into that state die three to five years afterwards.
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who makes Lia her personal cause and fights on Lia’s behalf. She is presented as one of the few members of the
American medical establishment willing to acknowledge Hmong tradition and tailor treatment to Lia's case.
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477:), who heads the hospital's cross-cultural program, said in 1999 that "The book has allowed more dialogue. There's certainly more awareness and dialogue than before. Both sides are teachers and learners."
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536:“Compellingly written, from the heart and from the trenches. I couldn’t wait to finish it, then reread it and ponder it again. It is a powerful case study of a medical tragedy.” - David H. Mark,
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Lia's condition worsens. The dichotomy between the Hmong's perceived spiritual factors and the
Americans' perceived scientific factors comprises the overall theme of the book.
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On the most basic level, the book tells the story of the family's second youngest and favored daughter, Lia Lee, who was diagnosed with a severe form of
1179:
530:, say the book typified conflicts between their culture and American institutions. But some say it didn't capture the complexity of the Hmong culture."
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for one year, causing friction with her parents. By age 4½ Lia Lee had been admitted to hospital care 17 times and had made over 100 outpatient visits.
278:
The book is written in a distinctive style, with every other chapter returning to Lia's story and the chapters in between discussing broader themes of
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313:, July 19, 1982 – August 31, 2012.): a Hmong child born in Merced, California, in 1982. Beginning in infancy, Lia experiences severe seizures due to
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in 1986 when she was four years of age. Lia Lee's doctors believed she would die, but Lia Lee remained alive but with no higher brain functions.
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doctors treating Lia Lee, Neil and Peggy Ernst, had her removed from her home when she was almost three years of age, and placed into
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Medical, Racist, and
Colonial Constructions of Power: Creating the Asian American Patient and the Cultural Citizen in Anne Fadiman’s
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ESSAY VS. APOLOGY DIVIDE HMONG * FRESNO LEADERS SAY AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION SHOULD APOLOGIZE ONCE MORE, AND MORE DIRECTLY.
375:, previously the Merced Community Medical Center; is a new building and not the previous building where Lia Lee was taken
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misdiagnosed her condition, and the hospital was unable to communicate with her parents since the hospital had no
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The Spirit
Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
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290:, and is often assigned to medical, pharmaceutic, and anthropological students in the US. In 1997, it won the
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923:“Building on Hmong Women’s Assets: Past, Present, and Future” September 16-17, 2005, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN
329:, writing about her experience with Lia and her family. Throughout the story, she stresses the importance of
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Anne
Fadiman's essay "Hmong Odyssey", adapted from the book, was published in the March–April 1998
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wrote that the book is "certainly the most widely read book on the Hmong experience in
America."
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Cheng Lee, a brother of Lia Lee, said that his father and mother liked
Fadiman's book.
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349:: Lia’s parents, who believe fervently in the traditional Hmong approach to medicine.
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1055:- Google Books citations lead to September 30, 1998 edition published by Macmillan,
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Marilyn Mochel, a nurse and clinical educator at Sutter Merced
Medical Center (now
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Malina, Debra, Ph.D. "Compliance, Caricature, and Culturally Aware Care."
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Fox, Margalit. "Lia Lee Dies; Life Went On Around Her, Redefining Care."
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Fox, Margalit. "Lia Lee Dies; Life Went On Around Her, Redefining Care."
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Fadiman's sources for information about the history of the Hmong include
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Fox, Renée C., Ph.D. "Cultural Competence and the Culture of Medicine."
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1030:. Wednesday March 4, 1998. Telegraph A1. Retrieved on March 12, 2012.
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1103:. 2005; 353:1317-1318. September 29, 2005. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp058064.
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1084:. 2005; 353:1316-1319. September 29, 2005. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp058066
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their daughter was transferred because of Ernsts' vacation plans.
252:, the Lees, and their interactions with the health care system in
552:, praised the essay, saying that it was thoughtful and accurate.
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as one of the 50 greatest nonfiction works of the past 25 years.
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was a Hmong king, a concept that Entenmann says is inaccurate.
763:. "Note on Hmong Orthography, Pronunciation, and Quotations."
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Influential Author Discusses How Culture Clash Became Tragedy
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217:
271:, and the cultural conflict that obstructed her treatment.
249:
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Practicing Modern Medicine: "A little medicine, a little
953:. Sunday March 21, 1999. B3. Retrieved on March 12, 2012.
901:
Overview of Recent Scholarship on Premodern Hmong History
788:"Lia Lee Dies; Life Went On Around Her, Redefining Care"
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Quincy's book, Fadiman's book propagates the idea that
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984:"The 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Past 25 Years"
740:, Volume 6, 2005. p. 1. Retrieved on July 11, 2014.
407:Lia Lee slipped into a coma after suffering from a
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
492:was the immediate cause of death. Margalit Fox of
1507:National Book Critics Circle Award-winning works
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526:said "Hmong, including some among the 2,000 in
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1123:Ann Fadiman: 'Go to the Edge of Your Culture'
718:
716:
1385:Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System
1162:Ernst, Neil T. and Margaret "Peggy" Philp. "
1006:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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337:(and in the greater medical establishment).
1200:Fadiman visit stirs emotions, understanding
945:MERCED HOSPITAL FILLS CULTURAL PRESCRIPTION
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538:Journal of the American Medical Association
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620:History of the Hmong in Merced, California
383:at three months of age, but a resident at
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58:"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down"
1175:. June 1987. Volume 6, Issue 6. Page 574.
837:
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680:Learn how and when to remove this message
122:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
1443:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
1217:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
1159:. v2n2. northern hemisphere Spring 1998.
1115:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
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765:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
704:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
643:This article includes a list of general
504:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
367:
327:The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
1138:. Volume 32, Number 4. October 25, 2001
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864:
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774:
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982:Miller, Dan Kois, Laura (2019-11-18).
981:
919:Hmong Studies Internet Resource Center
832:
816:"The Spirit Catches You Study Guide02"
1237:
1482:Hmong-American culture in California
1195:." Epilepsy.com. September 15, 2003.
1172:Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
629:
418:
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
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786:Margalit Fox (September 14, 2012).
767:. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 1997.
706:. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 1997.
297:
280:Hmong culture, customs, and history
240:that chronicles the struggles of a
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1487:Hmong-American culture and history
1347:Merced Community College District
1193:When Epilepsy Goes By Another Name
897:Hmong Cultural and Resource Center
649:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
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1300:Merced Union High School District
1107:
814:Clapsaddle, Diane (20 Mar 2015),
724:The Myth of Sonom, the Hmong King
548:. The Hmong community leaders in
1358:University of California, Merced
972:. Retrieved on October 23, 2012.
883:. Retrieved on October 23, 2012.
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1164:Bacterial Tracheitis Caused By
1100:New England Journal of Medicine
1089:New England Journal of Medicine
1081:New England Journal of Medicine
1069:New England Journal of Medicine
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385:Merced Community Medical Center
244:refugee family from Houaysouy,
34:needs additional citations for
1204:University of California-Davis
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842:Fadiman (September 30, 1998),
807:
754:
743:
294:Award for General Nonfiction.
256:. In 2005 Robert Entenmann of
1:
1288:Primary and secondary schools
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292:National Book Critics Circle
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1401:Mercy Medical Center Merced
1295:Merced City School District
1211:University of New Hampshire
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482:persistent vegetative state
475:Mercy Medical Center Merced
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373:Mercy Medical Center Merced
335:doctor-patient relationship
317:, a rare form of epilepsy.
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484:for 26 years. She died in
457:Hmong: History of a People
379:Lia experienced her first
363:
341:Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp
307:Romanized Popular Alphabet
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347:Foua Yang and Nao Kao Lee
325:: author and narrator of
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16:1997 book by Anne Fadiman
1512:Books about spirituality
1502:Anthropology of religion
1454:This list is incomplete.
1315:Independence High School
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1380:Merced Regional Airport
1166:Branhamella Catarrhalis
1118:at Macmillan Publishing
921:. Presentation at the "
664:more precise citations.
315:Lennox–Gastaut syndrome
269:Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
1517:Books about California
1472:1997 non-fiction books
1305:El Capitan High School
968:. September 14, 2012.
879:. September 14, 2012.
702:. "Foua and Nao Kao."
486:Sacramento, California
376:
1375:Merced County Transit
1227:Hmong Studies Journal
1156:Hmong Studies Journal
914:Hmong Studies Journal
737:Hmong Studies Journal
371:
1492:Medical anthropology
1477:Works about epilepsy
1330:Yosemite High School
1188:. February 17, 2010.
722:Entenmann, Robert. "
409:tonic-clonic seizure
284:medical anthropology
43:improve this article
1425:Merced County Times
1325:Sequoia High School
1206:. December 6, 2002.
480:Lia Lee lived in a
331:cultural competence
288:cultural competence
246:Sainyabuli Province
123:
1522:Merced, California
1497:Anthropology books
1320:Merced High School
1265:Merced, California
1230:2004-05, Volume 5.
1198:Chrismer, Ellen. "
1135:Inside Chico State
1129:2012-03-16 at the
965:The New York Times
943:Jennings, Ralph. "
907:2016-03-04 at the
876:The New York Times
793:The New York Times
730:2016-03-03 at the
550:Fresno, California
520:Ralph Jennings of
495:The New York Times
434:. You can help by
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254:Merced, California
236:is a 1997 book by
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1191:Lammert, Kathy. "
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