Author Anne Fadiman meticulously details the epilepsy of a Hmong child named Lia and the difficulties related to communication issues, but more so, stark cultural differences between her family and her American doctors. Fadiman's research not only encompasses the child's illness, but the background of her parents and of the Hmong people in general. The Hmong were known for being a close-knit people who preferred living in the highlands of China, and later, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. They strongly resisted assimilating into the cultures of other peoples wherever they resided. Hmong were recruited into helping the United States fight against Communists in a secret guerilla army in Laos during the Vietnam war era. Tens of thousands of Hmong soldiers and civilians died as a result. Later, large numbers of Hmong were brought to the United States in the 1970s and 80s for their safety. Lia's family came to Merced, California in 1980.
Lia's parents did not speak English, and when her epilepsy began, they didn't believe the condition was a problem that needed medicine, and certainly not on a regular schedule. In their culture, people with epilepsy were considered to be candidates for becoming shamans. They believed that a person having a seizure is able to see things that others cannot see. In fact, the whole Hmong culture revolves around trying to keep one's soul from being caught by dabs, which are evil spirits. There are herbal as well as ritual elements (including animal sacrifice) to the healing that Hmong adhere to.
As I read this book, I had to keep reminding myself that there are lots of people, even here in the U.S., whose belief systems are completely different from my own. This book is a thorough look at some of the fascinating differences.
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