Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me
When an idealistic activist objects to her siblings’ plan to ship their disabled sister off to a nursing home, she’s forced to choose between family and her sister’s freedom.
NAMW Member, Franke James, is an environmental activist who got into trouble in her own backyard—family trouble. She objected when she heard her siblings’ plan to put their disabled sister, Teresa Heartchild, into a nursing home. Teresa, who has Down syndrome, refused to go. But the other siblings insisted and secretly put Teresa into an institution for end-of-life care.
Teresa was in shock. Franke was horrified and organized a rescue. That’s when all hell broke loose. The two sisters had to stand together—against their siblings, the medical system, and the police—to defend Teresa’s right to be free.
This is an award-winning true story about disability rights colliding with ableism. It revolves around a key civil rights issue for all people with disabilities—the right to decide where you live.
The author found the courage to tell her true story after ten years. To overcome family resistance, James used pseudonyms and redacted family photos. She has extensive documentation to back up the accuracy of her memoir, including recorded dialogue, health records, court records, and police records.
Freeing Teresa has won a dozen international Book Awards for Social Change, Inspiration, Family Conflict, Special Needs, and Audiobook Non-fiction.
PRAISE and AWARDS for Freeing Teresa
“The result is more than a memoir: it’s a testimony to how ‘tickets to freedom’ are gained through fighting and love, displaying how Teresa’s own wishes and interests add fuel to the fire of empowerment on many different levels.”
Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“A gripping story about courage, love, and an unshakeable belief in human potential.”
Marty Seldman, Ph.D. author of Survival of the Savvy
WINNER OF 12 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
- 2024 NYC Big Book Awards
- Audiobook Nonfiction, Winner
- Social/Political Change, Winner
- NABE Pinnacle Award
- Inspirational, Winner
- International Firebird Book Awards 2024
- Judges’ Pick
- Social/Political Change, 1st place
- Special Needs, 1st place,
- Leadership, 2nd place
- Inspiration, 2nd place
- Human Relations Indie Book Awards, 2024
- Family Challenges, Gold Award
- Special Needs, Gold Award
- Leadership, Silver Award
- Inspirational, Silver Award
Bio
“Nobody really knows what life will throw at them. And how they’ll change as a result,” says Franke James. She is an activist, artist and author. She’s fought City Hall to build a green driveway (and won), been blacklisted by Canada for her climate change art—and turned the government’s silencing into international news. She won a PEN Canada Prize and BCCLA Award for her work exposing government censorship. Her latest book, Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me, is about choosing to defend her sister’s freedom over her family’s objections.
Can’t wait to read this book. I am working on a memoir about caring for my brother with Down Syndrome and our elderly mother at the same time – for 12 years. It’s a tough journey.
This is a VERY important book and topic. The Culture of Death would have all those who are inconvenient not just “put away”, but put down, like animals. Great job in writing this account.
Just listened to this book’s audible excerpt and while I love the innovation of having multiple voices, I’ve now purchased the paperback as well as added to Audible. Reading is faster than listening for me and I can’t wait to find out how this all goes. Really engaging work, Franke! Thank you for your work and life example.