1.Summarize the circumstances that led to Lia’s condition at the end of the book.
There were dozens of factors that may have led to Lia's final condition, many of which will be described below. The greatest problem with the circumstances Lia was plunged into was the cultural differences. The doctors and her parents, both of which were trying to “cure” Lia, had different means of achieving that goal, and lacked proper communication skills thus resulting in a misunderstanding created through many of the various attempts from both parties. The attempts made by the doctors included different dosages of a variety of medicines, all of which had to be administered at assorted times throughout the day. An example of the benefits of prescribing only one easy to administer drug can be found on page 91 of the novel, “...once Lia was started on it [Depakene], they [Neil and Peggy] wished they had prescribed it themselves.” In addition, the unavoidable side effects caused by the prescribed medicines pushed the doctors and parents further apart. The parents would have preferred fewer and easier to administer medicines with side effects that did not alter Lia's moods and personality. The doctors, on the other hand, chose to prescribe medicines they believed had less long term effects. Moreover, Peggy and Neil also attempted to gain the parents' permission by asking them to sign release forms for most procedures as well as attempt to explain to the parents the reasoning behind the procedures. The parents however, were not attempting to be difficult or stubborn but truly did not understand the reasoning of the doctors. This was because neither party understood why the other would find the cause of Lia's illness as they did. Lia's parents, Foua and Nao Kao believed that her illness could only be cured if they could call back her soul which had been stolen by a spirit. They attempted various methods of this cure; rubbing her skin with a coin (page 90) or pinching her skin. While...