Personal Narrative: If I Were A Western Caregiver

Lia is born of a loving Hmong family, and just three months into her life, begins to reveal epileptic symptoms. According to the Hmong community, the condition is curable, and the presence of spirits in such a patient’s soul is considered a blessing. However, American doctors in a community medical center fail to understand and appreciate Lia’s parents’ approach to the child’s disease, and are only interested in saving this child’s life. As the conflict develops, it becomes apparent that the child will not be healed; but this is not without the doctors realizing the importance of compromise. In this book, Anne Fadiman claims, “I have come to believe that her [Lia’s] life

While the language barrier became very obvious to them as the Hmong language has very long descriptions for even the simplest words, the cultural barrier lead to a cultural bias in regards of western medicine. Hmong patients expected to be released of the ER with any kind of medicine they wouldn’t need. In addition to that the Hmong had a negative attitude towards surgery or any other invasive treatments, as it was frowned upon in their culture. One aspect that made it even harder was that pregnant Hmong women preferred to stay at home till the really last moment, so that often Hmong children were born in the parking lot or the elevator. They distrusted the western medicine so much that they preferred not getting better by gratefully accepting the medicine and diagnosis to save their pride and dignity. Just as history showed, they would rather die than give up their pride.

What is culture? Culture is the idea of what is wrong or right, the concept of what is acceptable within our society. Culture serves us as a guide, taking us to the "right way" and helping us to make sense of things that surrounds us. There are many different cultures around the world. A lot of them are similar in specific ways and others are just completely different, this difference explains why we think that people from different backgrounds are "weird".

The reliance on western medicine was insufficient. The doctors were die-hard subscribers to western medicine who urgently wanted the child in care, while the parents were resistant and preferred their own customary traditions for addressing the situation according to their mystic “diagnosis.” The clashes provide insights into Hmong culture representative of a pattern of beliefs that clash when patients from other countries face hospital trips in western hospitals. The fact is that all less developed cultures, as western medicine would call them, are reliant on their mythologies and ancient rituals stretching back hundreds of years to determine their course of treatment for their children. In fact, the rituals that they adhere to become so difficult to understand because saving the parents in the ancient spiritual cultures is not the same as saving a patient according to western medicine. The Hmongs are clearly philosophical, and even accepting of the fate of their child, as they believe that the child has already been departed from the body. They hope that the situation is only temporary, and are trying to revive the girl, but also seem prepared to face the spiritual truth if they believe the spirit will not leave. Of course, the doctors feel this is voodoo and they just want to save the child's physical life, or correct her condition. The Hmongs seem more yielding on what they believe to be the fate of their child, and focus on the spiritual character of treatment according to her soul, while the doctors are trying to directly intervene with the physical

The main purpose of this article is for the nurses to provide a successful caring for the minority. Hmong are one of the largest minority group to lived in the United States. In order for the health professional to provide care for them. As Torry Cobb said, they need to be aware of the “history, culture, social structure and belief systems” of the Hmong people. The health care providers need to respect the Hmong American medical practices because they believe in their own use of traditional medication and using the shaman will help heal their spirit and physical illness. They also do believe in the western medication, but sometimes they don’t have confidence in the health care system because of their beliefs and practices. In addition to that,

“It felt as if there was this layer of Saran Wrap or something between us….So we couldn’t really accomplish what we were trying to do, which was to take care of Lia” (47-48). The cultural barrier between Lia Lee’s parents and the medical staff at Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC) was recognized equally by both parties throughout the many interactions they had. From Lia’s birth to her final release from MCMC a recurring theme has been reproduction, specifically its difference between Hmong and American traditions. The several occurrences between pregnant Hmong women and the medical staff at MCMC are demonstrative of the language and custom barriers between the two cultural groups. Standards of parental care are also different within the two cultures and both Hmong and American standards affected Lia’s health. Emotions and understandings towards children born or obtaining disability had both parties treat Lia differently throughout her varying stages of being medically treated. The different cultures pertaining specifically to reproduction are main factors that shaped Lia’s overall medical treatment through miscommunication, varying standards of parenthood, and viewpoints towards disability.

In learning about the Hmong culture, as well as others, a nurse providing care would be more likely to build trust and advocating for the patient as well as creating a healing environment. Information about Hmong

So far, I have learned that regardless of the Hmong cultural beliefs and difficulties they love their daughter. Everything is knew for them, different country, and culture, which makes it more difficult for them to adjust. They caring and loving people because had the courage to introduce a stranger to their home. It must be very hard for the Foua and Nao Kao to follow the doctor’s rule because their cultural beliefs are really strong. Although they are doing their best to make things smooth and help their daughter. Coming from a different country where people have live most of their life it is very had to fit in. Everything is different and at times you get frustraid because you are away from your whole family.

I was fifteen years old when my mother invited me to help out with the local foster home. When I arrived at the foster home I began to cry in response to the young children that I saw. It was difficult for me to understand the children's emotions initially but throughout the day I learned the reason behind their joy. Most of the foster children were grateful for the little deeds that the volunteers performed for them because we showed that we cared about them. In all honesty many people take for granted the advantages they have for succeeding in life. The foster children that I've seen that day were limited because they did not have the physical and the emotional support of their families. I did not realized how blessed I was to have a loving

I’m in the prison line minding my own business as a few girls punch me. I did nothing to them, but that day i was getting out of prison and the girls get jealous if the others get out. The police are sending me to a foster home. My seventh one and i’m hoping it’s the last. My head is throbbing and there is a cut on the upper part of my lip. Before I leave I ask where is my brother you said you promise would never split us apart. The social worker finds my brother and he is taken out of the home he is in, now he is with me I feel safe.

I agree, Irene that health care professionals need to be culturally sensitive of the Hmong people's customs and medicinal traditions. It was much harder back then because there weren't many translators available and many of the Western health professionals didn't know any of the beliefs of the Hmong's. However, as you mention the younger generation has bridged the gap in communication between both parties, and as society and health care providers have learned more about the Hmong people they have been able to better treat them

I woke up on the couch, screaming with tears running down my face. I tried to stop yelling, but I couldn’t. If I didn’t stop yelling Sebastian will wake up and then Lin and Vanessa will wake up and be furious with me. Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming from Lin and Vanessa’s room. Oh no, I woke one of them up, I quickly covered my mouth. I must look crazy, a teenage girl sitting on a couch disgustingly sobbing with her hand gripping her hand over her mouth tightly. The person who came out the Lin and V’s room was finally in front and I recognized the person as Vanessa. She sat next to me and swiftly encompassed me into a comforting cuddle position.

My interviewee is a second generation immigrant with one parent who was born in El Salvador and the other who has Mexican roots but was born in the United States. For the purposes of confidentiality my interviewee will be addressed as Ana from here on out. In this interview paper I will discuss the experiences that Ana faced growing up in a tri-racial household. I will also evaluate her experiences regarding assimilation to the lectures and reading assigned through out this course.

My “outside” cultural influences I have: America is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world culturally. We have German-Americans speaking German, Filipino-Americans speaking Tagalog, Irish-Americans speaking Irish, Scandinavian-Americans speaking Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, etc., Welsh-Americans speaking Welsh, Japanese-Americans speaking Japanese, Iraqi-Americans speaking Arabian, Mexican-Americans speaking Spanish, and all Americans united in the common goal to create the best possible nation in accordance with our Constitution.

While numerous disciplines have explored, and contributed to the literature their definitions and development of various identities, such as gender and racial, however, this study will address identity through the lens of caregiving, chiefly informal elder caregiving.