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TB Personal Stories – Rick and Francene’s StoryEspañol (Spanish)										Related Pages
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Rick and Francene’s Story
*In 2003, Rick and Francene adopted a 13-month-old boy from Russia. Shortly after returning to the United States, they learned he had tuberculosis (TB). A second son adopted from Russia 2 years later was found to have latent TB infection.*
It was at their son’s first doctor’s appointment in the United States that a TB skin test was ordered. The test results came back as borderline. But their son had moved around during the test and had been stuck twice, so they thought that was the cause of the reaction. “Little did we know what we were in for,” says Francene. A follow-up chest x-ray did not reveal TB, so they were told to bring their son in for an x-ray again in 6 months.Rick and Francene’s StoryRick and Francene’s StorySix months later the follow-up x-ray was done, but showed very different results. “This time we were not even home from the appointment before the doctor’s office called to tell us our son had TB,” says Francene. That same evening, Tammy, the TB Control Division’s Nurse Consultant at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, contacted the family. “I remember it was around 6:30 in the evening. She really helped me feel better. My husband and I were terrified, since we didn’t have any idea what TB treatment involved. All we had heard of were stories of sanatoriums and isolation.”
Tammy talked with the parents and provided additional information to read. “She made sure all of our questions were answered. She would consult with the doctors, if needed, to get us answers. Tammy educated me in such a way that I was able to reach out to the other parents on our adoption agency’s online post board,” recalls Francene. “I urged other parents to have their kids retested for TB a second time, 6 months after the first test.”
“For others who may receive a TB diagnosis and must undergo treatment, I would say, if a 13-month-old child can do it, anyone can. Treatment is nothing like it used to be, and you can still live your life. Always feel comfortable to ask questions. It can be scary, but the health department is a wealth of knowledge.”
Treatment for Francene and Rick’s son was difficult. “For the first 3 or 4 months, our son was given a combination of five drugs, one of which had to be given by injection. His treatment schedule was 5 days a week, with weekends off. Then he was given 3 drugs per day, 5 days a week for the remaining 3 months,” Francene recalls.
During the course of their son’s treatment, two TB nurses, Tammy and Kimberly, worked with the family. “Both Tammy and Kimberly were so caring and understanding. I wouldn’t have traded them for the world.”
Two years after adopting their first child, Rick and Francene adopted another child from Russia. “When he tested positive for latent TB infection, we were the ones calling the local health department and asking if we could work with the same TB nurses again for his treatment.”
“Through this process we realized that what you *don’t* know can be terrifying, but knowledge is power. It is power to calm and comfort, power to understand the end result is worth the effort, power to heal and ensure that our new family would truly be our forever family,” says Francene.
It’s been over 9 years since Rick and Francene’s oldest boy was diagnosed with TB, and 7 years since their second son was diagnosed with latent TB infection. “The boys are now 10 and 9, strong as can be, full of energy, and rarely sick,” says Francene. “Their TB is just a distant memory now, a time that neither child even remembers. But I will never forget the nurses and staff from the health department.”
“We chose to share our story because when our son was diagnosed with TB, we didn’t know anyone else who had TB, or where to turn for an encouraging word from someone who had experienced the TB treatment themselves,” explains Francene. “If by sharing our story it gives some support to others or convinces one family to get their foreign-born child tested, and treated if necessary, it means that our sons maybe went through this for a reason.”
“For others who may receive a TB diagnosis and must undergo treatment, I would say, if a 13-month-old child can do it, anyone can,” advises Francene. “Treatment is nothing like it used to be, and you can still live your life. Always feel comfortable to ask questions. It can be scary, but the health department is a wealth of knowledge.”More TB Personal Stories
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  March 15, 2013					Content source: 	Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention homeTuberculosisBasic TB Factsplus iconHow TB SpreadsLatent TB Infection and TB DiseaseSigns & SymptomsTB Risk FactorsExposure to TBTB PreventionVaccinesTB & HIV CoinfectionTB and DiabetesTB TermsPersonal StoriesTesting & Diagnosisplus iconWho Should be TestedTesting for TB InfectionTesting in BCG-Vaccinated PersonsTB Screening and Testing of Health Care PersonnelTesting During PregnancyDiagnosing latent TB infection and TB diseaseTreatmentplus iconDeciding When to Treat Latent TB InfectionTreatment Regimens for Latent TB Infection (LTBI)Treatment for TB DiseaseAdverse EventsTB Treatment of Persons Living with HIVTB Treatment and PregnancyTB Treatment for ChildrenFrequently Asked QuestionsDrug-Resistant TBResearchplus iconTB Epidemiologic Studies Consortiumplus iconResearch ProjectsPublicationsTB Trials Consortiumplus iconStudy DescriptionsBackgroundBehavioral & Social Science ResearchHealth Care Settingsplus iconTB Infection Control in Health Care SettingsResources for TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnelplus iconFrequently Asked QuestionsTB in Specific Populationsplus iconHealth DisparitiesAsian PersonsBlack or African American PersonsHispanic or Latino PersonsChildrenPregnancyCorrectional FacilitiesPeople Experiencing HomelessnessInternational TravelersLaboratory Informationplus iconDrug Susceptibility TestingFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for XDR  tuberculosis strainsModel Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP)Rapid Molecular Testing to Detect Drug-Resistant TB in the USplus iconExecutive SummaryIntroductionBackground on Tests for Molecular Detection of DRGeneral Considerations and Principles for a Molecular DR Testing ServicePossible Scenarios and Scope of Testing for a Molecular DR Testing ServiceResearch NeedsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelCommunication Plan for the ReportRecommendationsReferencesPanel Members and CDC ParticipantsAppendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3The Uses of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of TBplus iconGeneral ConsiderationsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelRecommendations to ACET, CDC, DTBEData & Statisticsplus iconTB Incidence in the United StatesReported TB in the US, 2022 Surveillance Reportplus iconNational DataReporting Area DataRisk FactorsDemographicsTB Treatment and Case OutcomesDrug-Resistant TBMolecular SurveillanceTuberculosis in the United States, 2022 (Slide Set)Archived Surveillance Reports and Slide Sets2021 State and City ReportArchived State and City ReportsProfessional Resources & Toolsplus iconTools for Healthcare ProvidersResources for TB Programsplus iconStrengthening Civil Surgeons’ Capacity to Improve LTBI Surveillance and Outcomes Among Status AdjustersNotice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)Program EvaluationTB Centers of ExcellenceTB Elimination AllianceTB Genotypingplus iconConventional TB GenotypingWhole Genome SequencingTB GIMSAnalytic ToolsLatent Tuberculosis Infection ResourcesPublications & Productsplus iconPatient and Public MaterialsFact SheetsGuidelinesplus iconControl & EliminationDrug-Resistant TBInfection Control & PreventionLaboratory & GenotypingTB & HIVTB in Specific PopulationsTesting & DiagnosisTreatmentVaccines & ImmunizationsArchived TB GuidelinesGuides & Toolkitsplus iconAggregate ReportsCDC TB Surveillance TrainingCore CurriculumEffective TB Interviewing for Contact InvestigationEthnographic GuidesFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitForging Partnerships to Eliminate TuberculosisGuide to Application of GenotypingLTBI: A Guide for Primary Health Care ProvidersMantoux Tuberculin Skin Testing ProductsReport of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT)Self-Study ModulesTB Contact Investigation Interviewing Skills CourseTB eDOT ToolkitUnderstanding the TB Cohort Review ProcessNewslettersplus iconTB Notes, No. 4, 2023TB Notes, No. 3, 2023TB Notes. No. 2, 2023TB Notes. No. 1, 2023TB Notes, No. 4, 2022TB Notes, No. 3, 2022TB Notes, No. 2, 2022TB Notes, No. 1, 2022TB Notes, No. 4, 2021TB Notes, No. 3, 2021TB Notes, No. 2, 2021TB Notes, No. 1, 2021Pamphlets, Brochures, Bookletsplus iconQuestions and AnswersPatient Education SeriesTuberculosis - Get the FactsTuberculosis - The Connection between TB and HIV12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection-Patient Education BrochurePostersplus iconMantoux Tuberculin Skin Test Wall ChartWorld TB DayThink TBStop TBTake on TBReports & Articlesplus iconDTBE Authored Journal ArticlesTuberculosis Laboratory Aggregate ReportsSlide Setsplus iconIntroduction to TuberculosisEpidemiology of Tuberculosis Among Non-U.S.​–Born Persons in the United States, 1993–2016Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis, 1-5 Slide SetsThe Tuberculosis (TB) in Correctional Settingsplus iconFacilitator GuideIntroduction to TB GenotypingEpidemiology of Tuberculosis in Correctional Facilities, United States, 1993-2017Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention FacilitiesGuidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care SettingsInvestigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TBEpidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United StatesTargeted Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis InfectionElectronic Tools & ResourcesWeb-Based Courses & Webinarsplus iconTB 101 for Health Care WorkersContent SyndicationInfographicsplus iconSocial Media GraphicsCustomizable Take on TB Infographic with InstructionsEventsWorld TB Dayplus iconU.S. TB ChampionsHistoryFeaturesplus iconTB Risk FactorsTreating Latent TB Infection with Short-Course RegimensWorld Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2021World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2020Linksplus iconState TB Control OfficesAbout Usplus iconMission Statement and Activitiesplus iconDTBE Strategic PlanNational TB Program ObjectivesOrganization ChartAdvisory Groupsplus iconFederal TB Task Force To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit


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