What if? This is one of the largest questions in the book The Spirit Catches you and You Fall Down. This idea is what sparks the author to write the eight questions from how many problems from trying to understand what actually happened to Lia and what could have been prevented. Due to so many different scenarios that could have occurred not only spiritually, but also physically these answers are still uncertain. Foua made a statement that Lia had “doctors that are very knowledgeable-but maybe they made a mistake by giving her the wrong medicine and they made her hurt” (258). Which did occur due to the septic prone medication that was given to Lia and possibly could be the cause for her vegetative state. What if the medicine was different, what if there were better options? These questions will constantly be asked, because with each different variable, there come the question, what if? Foua also wondered if it was the dab that was making Lia sick and if the family was still in Laos they “would know how to go and get herbs to fix her” and there may have not been as messy of a scenario as there was (258). This is a reasonable scenario of Lia’s health and if the herbs would have helped how would one even know. “What was not clear was who, if anyone should be held accountable” (258). If anyone is held accountable it is still up to opinion between western medicine, cultural medicine, or the large communication barrier that caused constant drama through Lia’s condition. What if there was only one scenario, does anyone know what would have actually been best for this child’s condition. What if the doctors could figure out all of her side effects to medications, and actually could find the best possible drug for Lia. She wouldn’t have had such an issue with trying so many pills that the Lee’s could actually also try and do best to help her. What if she was at home the entire time, would she have healed differently? These will be constant questions not just while reading this novel, but should be thought of by all medical professionals when treating there patients, what if.
Post 1 Cheyenne Stier Chapter 10 started off with a brief description of the landscapes Hmong people are use to. This happens to be more of mountainous terrain, obviously higher elevated areas. Fadimen did an interview with Father Jean Mottin, during which he stated, "Seek among the highest and inaccessible mountains and you will find them [Hmong people]" (page 120). This got me curious as to whether or not being in such a geography has any effects on health. While I did not find anything about higher altitudes contributing to seizures, there were other health effects likely to happen. It'd be interesting to find out if Lia were to go to higher elevations, if her seizures would be effected, even with the lack of research.
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