{"id":12650,"date":"2025-10-07T12:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resultscanada.ca\/?p=12650"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:24:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T19:24:10","slug":"andre-tinio-tb-survivor-and-endtb-champion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resultscanada.ca\/fr\/andre-tinio-tb-survivor-and-endtb-champion\/","title":{"rendered":"Andre Tinio : survivant de la TB et champion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201c\u2026my healthcare team had to ration one of my medications as there was a shortage from the manufacturer in the [United] States. In this day in age, there should be no shortage of medication for any disease.\u201d<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Andre Tinio is many things: Albertan, social worker, child of Filipino immigrants but, more recently, he\u2019s also felt the grips of tuberculosis (TB) and now advocates for a world where no one else has to experience this disease. And he\u2019s doing so right here on Parliament Hill, joining advocates from across Canada and the world for a passionate TB Hill Day<\/a> on September 25th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As dozens of advocates, from survivors to health practitioners to policy experts, flocked to Ottawa to talk to decision-makers and urge Canada to #LeadOnTB, it\u2019s voices and experiences like Andre\u2019s that propel us to push for progress against the deadliest infectious disease killer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Andre alongside fellow TB survivor-advocates and MP Jacques Ramsay on Parliament Hill [September 2025].<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[RC] Hi Andre, thanks for sitting with us. Can you tell us a bit about your TB story? Whatever you\u2019re comfortable sharing \ud83d\ude0a<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was diagnosed with TB in late July of 2024. My symptoms were atypical as I did not present pulmonary symptoms at the time when I was admitted to the hospital. I presented with appendicitis symptoms and after assessment and 10 days in the hospital, I was diagnosed with TB in my stomach, colon, L2 + L3 vertebrae, and in my lungs. To say the least, I was severely sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I noticed I was starting to feel unwell in May and was slowly losing weight and had more feelings of fatigue and general malaise. I did not suspect TB due to the lack of pulmonary symptoms, therefore, it was a shock to me when I was formally diagnosed and how severe it was<\/strong>. My recovery journey of formal medication treatment would be a full year. Based on the severity of my case, I did not see improvement until November. I was in severe pain from August to October in my stomach and back which impacted my mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was life changing<\/strong> as I had to comply with medication treatment in the form of video call compliancy, monthly check ins with my healthcare team, appointments for diagnostic imagery, and balancing work\/personal life commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I officially stopped taking medication in August, but I will still need to self-monitor my body for a year and still complete follow up appointments with my GP, TB specialist, and diagnostic imagery. I have chronic pain in my back and lower body and am focusing my energy and intentions now to preserving my back and creating good strategies and habits to sustain and improve my overall health and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[RC] How\u202fdid you get through it and what kept you going throughout your illness?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapy and being candid and transparent with my friends, family, and work about the journey. Sometimes, when we give advice to those who are sick, we frame it through a toxic positivity lens or \u201cit could be worse\u201d lens. I think validating and holding space for those who are sick in general is more useful<\/strong>. Offering a listening and non-judgmental ear or providing specific offers\/tasks for those who are sick is also helpful. It is also important to be consistent with your help and offers. However, I do need to acknowledge that whenever you are in a position in helping a person who is sick or who has TB, remember your own wellness and boundaries. Caregiver and compassion burnout is real.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andre on the day he was released from hospital.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Andre, the week after stopping TB medication.<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Andre at Harvard University learning and contributing to anti-racism efforts.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

[RC] What\u202fare you most passionate about undertaking in your TB advocacy?\u202f<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am passionate about education and educating people about public health and why good social programming and caregiver\/friend supports is needed. When I was sick, I could understand why some caregivers can struggle as the medical appointments and medication compliancy can overwhelm all involved. There should be collaboration between governments and community agencies to offer more robust and individualized treatment plans for patients diagnosed with TB. For example, therapy is costly in Alberta. The mental health struggles that I had were immense and I needed consistent check ins. That\u2019s why therapy should be a basic healthcare option for all and have it be affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, maintaining work and securing work when I was impacted by TB is a strong factor in how I survived as my workplaces were flexible and accommodating to my situation. I know many places are not like that, therefore, strong work protections and accommodations for anyone who is sick must be championed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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