The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down
There are many important themes throughout Fadiman’s depiction of the health problems of a young Hmong girl who has suffered from epilepsy since she was an infant. One of the most significant themes is how cultural differences and ideologies act as barriers and obstacles to health care. We see this in the anger and misunderstanding that arises between Lia’s health care professionals and Lia’s parents, “The doctors wouldn’t even look at Foua and Nao Kao. They’d only look at us and Jeanine. They saw us as smart and white, and as far as they were concerned the Lees were neither” (Fadiman 151). Another major theme of the book is that, beneath all the cultural differences and ideologies, people are a lot more closely connected than might appear. We see this when the walls between the health care professionals and Lia’s parents are eradicated to a degree when it comes to how each side feels about their own loved ones’ welfare. After Peggy learns that her son has lymphocytic leukemia the two mother’s bond, “At the end of the visit, Mrs. Lee was hugging Peggy and they were both shedding a few tears. Sorrows of motherhood cut through all cultural barriers” (Fadiman 252). Another major theme of the book is how, because of people’s inherent differences on a host of issues, from dualism to invasive procedures, human services professionals need to broaden their appreciation of different approaches and different cultures. We see this throughout the book, but near the end the author expresses a specific application example, important in its ability to help ease cultural tensions because it promotes collaboration that is progressive, sound and harmful to the welfare of no one involved. Instead of taking from a culture its non-progressive traditions (like some Hmong remedies that include poisons), the author advocates incorporating ones that, while they are
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