Q&A from "Lydia's Story"

1. The main point of this essay is that even in the event of large scale disasters, people will find the strength within themselves in order to carry on because they rely on hope and sheer determination. This is pointed out in the last paragraph in the essay when the author says, "it represents the essence of hope and determination in the face of terrible adversity."

2. This essay is written from a first person point of view and its impact makes it more meaningful to the reader because they may have never met someone who was a responder to this crisis and it makes the main person's story more relatable. The author retells the harrowing story as though she had lived through it and wanted to show how Lydia's deliberate actions while her house, her neighborhood, was being washed away, saved her from an almost certain death.

3. The author narrative "comes alive" by shortening Lydia's harrowing story to retell the highlights and creating the scene in which the water was entering the house and Lydia had to move from a large table, to the counter, and finally to a cramped linen closet in order to remain alive. The words the author uses the have the most impact are, toxic, rushing, panic, trouble, pressure, strong, terrified, drowning, deep, cramped, hungry, thirsty, swollen,  rescued, strength, resolve, hope, determination, adversity. These words are terrific examples of how to draw a reader into the story because they are sensational. They add to the essay that there was horrifying experience and through all of it, at the end hope and determination were driving factors for the author's subject to remain alive.

4. The audience for this essay was more than likely for other doctors or possibly as human interest piece for anybody to read. The tone that the author uses is of a lasting experience that the author wants to share. There were many responders who were there after the events of Hurricane Katrina and there were many stories that came from it, but she wanted to share one event that stood out from all the others while she was helping those affected by the storm. The author recreates a sense of smell from the toxicity of the air when they first enter the VFW. Another example would be when describes the current living conditions for the 70 people who were living in the VFW as being small, allowing only cots and mattresses as living spaces. She recreates the scene of the water rushing into the house by using the subject's own account, "rushing like the Colorado River." She also uses the word cramped to describe the conditions in which the subject had to live for fives days. The author uses many more phrases to set the tone of a bleak situation, but the many people that she met and treated inspired her and touched her and she had to retell one of the compelling stories of someone who lived through a dire situation.