The rescue mission: Franke James with her camera and Teresa Heartchild with a plastic whistle at the Toronto nursing home on November 30, 2013.
“Forced care is happening to people with disabilities around the world. Most people don’t escape. And the world shrugs.” ~ Franke James
The memoir opens on the night of November 30, 2013, with cops knocking at the door.
Franke, her husband Bill, and her father had just freed Teresa from the nursing home she was forced into. From that tense beginning scene, we jump backward in time to get glimpses of the events leading up to that pivotal day.
[Based on digital records] readers are introduced to a cast of people — Teresa’s siblings, father, and the key players in her life. But in all images, Teresa and Franke’s siblings are whited out, a deliberate approach to reflect their absence in Franke’s life, and their role in Teresa’s…
With an aging father and a sister with Down syndrome, this group of siblings naturally worries about ensuring their relatives are taken care of. Still, nobody is willing to step forward… for fear it will interrupt the flow of their lives. Casual discussions turn to planned meetings to determine the future of Teresa and their father’s care—without either’s knowledge or consent.
Things turn dark
Things turn dark as Franke and Bill hit dead end after dead end, until pressure spurs the couple into a final decision — to let Teresa live with them. Of course, it’s easier said than done, as the group of siblings will do anything to maintain control.
Who decides where you live?
Should everyone have the right to choose where they live? The answer seems obvious — of course, choosing where you live is a basic human right.
But for Teresa Heartchild, an artist, self-advocate and author who has Down syndrome, everything changed when that right was taken away from her. Teresa’s older sister, Franke James, gives a true account of the arduous path that led to Teresa’s wrongful institutionalization and eventual rescue in her memoir, Freeing Teresa.
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Freeing Teresa depicts complex dynamics between family members and harsh ableism directed towards Teresa — but it also celebrates growth, change and humanity. Though this is a portrait of Teresa’s life, her autonomy, intelligence and endless capabilities, it also shows the transformation Franke embarks on over the course of her own life.
Dedicated To Those Who Are Different
Freeing Teresa is dedicated to “those who are different” and is a refreshing reminder that people who are different deserve the same dignity and respect as any of us. Franke’s constant persistence that Teresa is so much more capable than anyone expects, and her determination to fight for her sister is inspiring. In 2023, Teresa celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her rescue.
Franke’s wise words make for a touching closing thought: “The struggle for equality is never done. But sometimes by standing up for what’s right, you can make a difference.”
See the full review by Megan Beauregard on BookTrib: Memoir Recounts Sister’s Rescue Mission and the Ongoing Fight For Disability Justice
Buy the book: Freeing Teresa