Sanitarium childhood

Gloria Paris spent most of her youth (from age 5 to 14) in sanitariums in upstate New York battling spinal tuberculosis.  In her book, A child of sanitariums:  A memoir of tuberculosis survival and lifelong disability, she recalls the treatment of her disease (full body casts, traction, fusing of bones) and the social and cultural implications of growing up in an institution instead of with her family.  She looks back on her hospital 'family' and details her adult pilgrimages to her childhood care facilities.  There is no lack of scientific fact in her writings regarding the disease or its impact on the country.  After Paris was discharged, she finished high school and college, earning a degree in microbiology.  Her first position was studying the microscopic tubercle bacilli at the hospital on Samson Air Force Base led her directly to the bacteria which had infected her body and caused bone deformity which would render her disabled.  Despite her disability, Paris leads a full life which includes raising awareness for disability rights and fundraising and advocating for minority groups.  Paris still resides in her hometown in upstate New York.
A few important points to take from this work:
*Tuberculosis is not only a disease of the past.
*Tuberculosis is treatable with a lengthy course of antibiotics.
*According to CDC statistics, there were over 12,000 cases of TB in the US.

Centers for Disease Control information on Tuberculosis