Health Story Hub
The author lived with parents and aunts. When father and her aunts died, she was left alone to help her mother with grief and deteriorating health. The two women struggled with the idea of assisted suicide, but eventually chose that path over further suffering. About 3 pages; workable for intermediate and advanced learners, compelling storytelling for a community group.
This story describes the narrator’s struggle with grief after the death of her partner in a car crash. Her persistent questions of “why did this have to happen” and “why did they deserve this” led to depression, barely getting out of bed, and friends noticing changes in personality. When she finally left her house, the fresh air convinced her to see a psychologist. She concludes that the pain never goes completely away but becomes less paralyzing over time.
At 1.5-2 pages, this is appropriate for upper intermediate Spanish learners or a community group to discuss bereavement and how therapy can help. Placement within a website that promotes therapy does forecast that therapy is the answer to problems.
This podcast called “En la Sala” is hosted by singer Becky G. There is also a guest on this episode, Latino rapper J Balvin. Both people speak about their struggles with mental health in their industry and in their culture as well. Their discussion reveals that that mental health is a taboo topic in Latin American culture.
This interview of a father with a son who has a cochlear implant is posted on the website of a company that makes hearing assistance devices. It is one of many brief stories (300-700 words) about deafness and hearing assistance devices on the website. In this one, the father was asked about his tattoo of a cochlear implant on his head and said that this was a way to connect with his son. This interview shows that many people with hearing loss can feel isolated from the rest of the world. Hearing people can gain understanding of the emotional benefits of cochlear implants.
Mike Higgens is a dad, husband, and pastor. He tells a short story of the day he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. Although he began to show symptoms at age 12, he was not diagnosed until he was 28. The article could prompt discussion about the importance for physicians to listen to patient stories as well as the signifcance of social support.
This 7-minute music video tells Rene’s (Residente) story of growing up “lower middle class” but secure in Puerto Rico. Describes happiness, sadness and the fragility of being a famous rapper and how he uses alcohol to deal with powerful feelings: loneliness, fear, grief – but music and baseball are more stable healing forces. The video has accurate subtitles in both Spanish and English and moves quite slowly (and can be slowed even further). Many scenes and details of Puerto Rican culture, excellent illustration of dialect features. Could be used to discuss alcoholism, addiction, grief in an upper intermediate or higher Spanish course.
This 3000-level course is of particular interest to Spanish majors and minors with health professions interests, although readings and assignments are aimed at any Spanish student with intermediate level proficiency. Creative writing majors from English, students interested in editing and publishing, International Studies and Global Health Studies majors, Communication Studies majors with general interests in health, all have succeeded. Readings are from Latinx and Latin American authors; some in English, many in Spanish. Assignments are four creative writing projects, one that becomes a digital video.
Overview of narrative medicine: characteristics of a narrative, benefits for health professionals, basis in biopsychosocial model of medical care. Useful introduction to a course in health narratives taught in Spanish; upper intermediate reading level, 4 pps
Carla tells her story of how her mother’s disposition changed after her father’s hospitalization with diabetes. One day, Carla came home to see her mother, Jaquelina, on the floor. She shook her and slapped her awake. Jaquelina finally woke up to say she wished she had aborted Carla. This is only where the physical and verbal abuse began. Years like this went on and Carla moved out, cutting off all ties. However, after hearing about Jaquelina attending AA, they both began rekindling their bond. Carla comes from Argentina. The audio may be fit for intermediate Spanish learners. This podcast features themes of physical and verbal abuse and therefore may be suitable for an upper level undergraduate course or medical school student.
Carina Morillo shares her story as the mother of a son with autism through a TedTalk. The video is in Spanish with English subtitles; a transcript in English and Spanish is available as well. Morillo’s 15 year old son, Ivan, was diagnosed when he was two and a half and at that time, his parents did not have access to internet information or expert advice about autism. Morillo describes how she learned to connect with her son through activities he enjoyed and how she learned to appreciate and build upon his strengths, such as a strong visual memory, which became a basis for his communication through images. She describes support from a local grocer who gave her son a job that utilizes his passion for organizing items. Her message is that one does not need to be an expert to be curious and inclusive.
Eye contact is a part of the story and a metaphor for inclusion; some autistics might point out that insisting on eye contact can be distracting, even painful. However, the larger point of the story emphasizes valuing autistic abilities and working with their interests to create connection. This story can prompt a discussion that may challenge stereotypes about autism and expert systems of medicalization and treatment.