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Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me

By: Franke James (With Teresa Heartchild and Billiam James)
Publisher: The James Gang, Iconoclasts Inc.
Publication Date: October 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1999406103
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: December 2, 2024

Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me by Franke James along with co-authors Teresa Heartchild and Billiam James is an emotive narrative about combating sibling rivalry and a flawed system that does not prioritize a disabled individual’s best interests.

Some members of Franke James' family were taken aback by the unexpected arrival of two police officers, two paramedics carrying a stretcher, and two of her older sisters and spouses behind them. Franke’s hope was that they had not come to take Teresa away from their father, who was her primary caretaker after her mother passed away over a decade earlier. Teresa was born with Down syndrome, an extra chromosome, a genetic variant that affects one in every 700 individuals. At 49, all of her siblings—aside from Franke—supported her transfer to a city-run nursing facility, where sadly, the inhabitants were older and frailer. This was done under the shadow of their elderly father, who had refused to admit their mother to a nursing facility after a crippling stroke and who cared for her for 16 years at home, and Franke knew would not have agreed to their plan.

If Teresa moved to the nursing facility that provided end-of-life care, Franke knew that she would be exposed to a variety of illnesses and a lurking wave of death. She was also aware that her other siblings felt a duty to Teresa but viewed her living with them as a burden. Even more shocking was their insistence that their father was suicidal and their call to the police to have him arrested under the Mental Health Act. Furthermore, they insisted that Teresa had Alzheimer's, with which Franke disagreed and to which there was no supporting medical diagnosis to back up this claim. It was up to Franke and her husband to put an end to their plans, which in return could result in pandemonium and damage their family bonds.

The author uses an unusual approach in this true story to reveal profound betrayal at the hands of unexpected members of her family. As you read it, you will be left wondering what their unpredictable string of bad deeds could do next. Franke’s unwavering pursuit of independence for her sister with Down syndrome and elderly father, for whom she is the appointed attorney for his well-being, is endearing. Despite the story's focus on ableist beliefs and chaotic family dynamics, her sister's story—which highlights important civil rights problems for all individuals with disabilities, such as the freedom to choose where they live—takes center stage. She comes across as a loyal, passionate, and compassionate individual who has endured a protracted, difficult, and uphill battle with her siblings that would overwhelm many. Her voice occasionally falters, which makes the reader more acutely aware of the gravity of the problems.

Quill says: This is an engrossing story of love, fortitude, and steadfast confidence in transforming impossibilities into realities. It honors a victim who transforms into an author, artist, and self-advocate who wins art grants and becomes a globally acclaimed "Champion for Change." It ends well and imparts several lessons to the reader, some of which are applicable to any family-related issue.

For more information about Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me, please visit the author's website at: freeingteresa.com