Xuan's Story
English
English and with Vietnamese subtitles
Sitting in the doctor’s office and acting as an interpreter for her Vietnamese-speaking father, 12-year-old Xuan found out that he has hepatitis B. With the support of family, doctors, and healthcare workers, Xuan’s father started to learn about the virus and take control of his life. Xuan is now an advocate for multilingual resources to address hepatitis B, particularly in her local Vietnamese community.
Discussion Questions and Answers:
What was it like for 12-year-old Xuan to act as an interpreter during her father’s doctor appointment? (Xuan was shocked by the graphic images of internal organs in the room as she tried to interpret, and she was confused by the unfamiliar medical terminology.)
What factors contributed to Xuan being in the position of language interpreter, and to her father not already knowing his hepatitis B status? (Many healthcare facilities do not have trained medical interpreters and/or the resources to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and Xuan’s father’s social and economic situation as a Vietnamese refugee likely made it difficult for him to access adequate preventive healthcare services.)
What helped Xuan’s father and the whole family learn about hepatitis B and come to a place of understanding and gratitude? (With the support of Xuan, culturally-educated health workers, and knowledgeable doctors, Xuan’s father learned what he needs to stay strong, while Xuan’s current work as a hepatitis B caseworker and interpreter has brought the family together and benefitted the Vietnamese community in her area.)
Xuan's story is available in English and with Vietnamese subtitles.