"Lydia's Story" Rundown:

1. Gathered from the text; “Lydia’s Story,” by Jan Brideau, she (Brideau) seemed to take a large issue, and pull a very small aspect of it into light to have an impact on the reader's heart. Brideau makes it clear to the reader that she witnessed first hand the aftermath and devastation behind the two storms (Katrina and Rita). Her main point however, of writing a small narrative of a particular woman’s situation gives a specific example of the damage she had discovered. She states this “thesis,” if you will, at the beginning of the last paragraph of the story. She states: “For me, the enormity of the double hurricanes became clear only after witnessing so many people left without homes.”
2. The primary point of view regarding “Lydia’s Story” is a third person perspective of the troubles “Lydia” faced. Using a third person perspective rather than first or a non-applicable second, gives the writer the freedom to weave background information in along with the touching thoughts of the actual victim. Another advantage to this style of writing is it makes the story more credible, were as if it were told in the first person, the reader might get the impression of some exaggeration and fable entangled in the tale.
3. The author does a good job capturing the reader's mind and connecting them with the main character. Key words and Phrases help illustrate and strengthen the story all while getting an emotional response from her audience. Describing how the table she initially stood on took three men to lift but was effortlessly uplifted by the rush of seemingly the “Colorado river” gives perspective on how severe the flooding was. Later she was described as waiting “cramped on the top shelf of the closet.” Once the water receded she waded to the front porch, then clutching one of the posts she screamed for help. From beginning to end the reader starts to feel connected with this “Lydia” woman and the author does a great job allowing to reader to visualize the traumatic events in Lydia’s life prior to her encounter with her (Brideau/author).
4. Given the background that this story was first published in “Health Affairs” journal, this structure of story captures the medical world due to the author's career (a pediatric nurse) as well as stating information on health issues of a “slender black woman” (who had an abscessed tooth). This draws the curiosity of medical minded individuals because they might have an interest of how this problem will be resolved. The author then goes on saying that the “$25 for an x-ray,” was too steep a price for this poor woman put out of her home. By giving this piece of information she (the author) captures the emotional interest of the readers because the begin to feel sorry for this “Lydia” woman. This allows the author to jump into a short narrative that might not otherwise be seen in this particular journal.