Freeing Teresa

<p><strong>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.</strong></p><p></p><p>TRIGGER WARNING: This true story deals with dysfunctional family relationships and ableist attitudes which some readers may find upsetting.</p><p></p><p><em>The result is more than a memoir: it's a testimony to how 'tickets to freedom' are gained through </em><strong><em>fighting and love</em></strong><em>.</em></p><p>D. Donovan Sr. Reviewer Midwest Book Review</p><p></p><p><u>A true story about disability sisters and standing up for the right to be yourself.</u></p><p></p><p>Franke James is an environmental <strong>activist</strong> who got into trouble in her own backyard-<strong>family trouble</strong>. She objected when she heard her siblings' plan to put their <strong>disabled sister</strong> 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 <strong>end-of-life care</strong>.</p><p></p><p>Teresa was in shock. Franke was horrified and organized a rescue. That's when all hell broke loose. The <strong>two sisters had to stand together</strong>-against their siblings the medical system and the police-<strong>to defend Teresa's right to be free.</strong></p><p></p><p>This is a <strong>true story</strong> about a key <strong>civil rights </strong>issue for all people with disabilities-the right to decide where you live.</p><p></p><p></p><p><u>THIRTY-THREE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS </u><em>Including:</em></p><p></p><p><strong>NYC Big Book Award 2024</strong></p><ul><li>Winner Social/Political Change</li><li>Winner Audiobook Nonfiction</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>IAN Book of the Year Awards</strong> (2024)</p><ul><li>Nonfiction: Outstanding True Story Book of the Year</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>eLit Awards</strong>(2024)</p><ul><li>Audiobook Autobiography/Biography Silver</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>Literary Titan </strong>(Q4 2024)</p><ul><li>Nonfiction Gold</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>BookFest Awards Fall 2024</strong></p><ul><li>Three Silver Winners including Memoir Personal Nonfiction</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>Human Relations Indie Book Award Winner 2024</strong></p><ul><li>Gold Award Family Challenges</li><li>Gold Award Special Needs (Disability Rights)</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>Firebird Book Awards Q2 2024</strong></p><ul><li>Judges' Pick</li><li>1st place Social/Political Change</li><li>1st place Special Needs (Disability Rights)</li><li>2nd place Leadership</li><li>2nd place Inspiration</li></ul><p></p><p><strong>Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Summer 2024</strong></p><ul><li>1st Place Inspiration</li></ul>