Press "Enter" to skip to content

Is blood thicker than water? | Maria Helena Heim | TEDxDornbirn


[Music]

[Music] thank you

thank you

thank you so the reason why I’m standing here

so the reason why I’m standing here

so the reason why I’m standing here right now are my parents if I saved my

right now are my parents if I saved my

right now are my parents if I saved my parents I actually have to save my

parents I actually have to save my

parents I actually have to save my foster parents yes my parents took in

foster parents yes my parents took in

foster parents yes my parents took in seven foster kids and through their love

seven foster kids and through their love

seven foster kids and through their love offered us a caring and loving home let

offered us a caring and loving home let

offered us a caring and loving home let me introduce you to the people who are

me introduce you to the people who are

me introduce you to the people who are really important in my life my family on

really important in my life my family on

really important in my life my family on the right side you can see my mother and

the right side you can see my mother and

the right side you can see my mother and my money and my father Matias here on

my money and my father Matias here on

my money and my father Matias here on the top from the left to the right is

the top from the left to the right is

the top from the left to the right is father Julia flowers Sandra and I’m

father Julia flowers Sandra and I’m

father Julia flowers Sandra and I’m sitting here in the front you can see

sitting here in the front you can see

sitting here in the front you can see next to me it’s just me well let’s start

next to me it’s just me well let’s start

next to me it’s just me well let’s start at the beginning in 1982 and my parents

at the beginning in 1982 and my parents

at the beginning in 1982 and my parents got married they soon discovered that

got married they soon discovered that

got married they soon discovered that they couldn’t have children

they couldn’t have children

they couldn’t have children their marriage was filled with so much

their marriage was filled with so much

their marriage was filled with so much love that they absolutely wanted to

love that they absolutely wanted to

love that they absolutely wanted to share so they decided that they wanted

share so they decided that they wanted

share so they decided that they wanted to have foster kids they started the

to have foster kids they started the

to have foster kids they started the process

process

process and after a year I arrived in 1986

being the little princess of my dad I

being the little princess of my dad I was getting really spoiled at my first

was getting really spoiled at my first

was getting really spoiled at my first birthday my dad took me out to a shop

birthday my dad took me out to a shop

birthday my dad took me out to a shop he’s a big car fanatic and bought me a

he’s a big car fanatic and bought me a

he’s a big car fanatic and bought me a little motorcar which I couldn’t even

little motorcar which I couldn’t even

little motorcar which I couldn’t even write because I was only one year older

write because I was only one year older

write because I was only one year older when we got home and my mom sada she

when we got home and my mom sada she

when we got home and my mom sada she said we absolutely need another child

said we absolutely need another child

said we absolutely need another child because this girl’s a to spoil so this

because this girl’s a to spoil so this

because this girl’s a to spoil so this is when Renee came to our family he was

is when Renee came to our family he was

is when Renee came to our family he was already 7 years old finally after two

already 7 years old finally after two

already 7 years old finally after two more years sandwich owned our family and

more years sandwich owned our family and

more years sandwich owned our family and in 1990 my brother Klaus with Klaus

in 1990 my brother Klaus with Klaus

in 1990 my brother Klaus with Klaus there’s actually a

there’s actually a

there’s actually a amazing stories so when his biological

amazing stories so when his biological

amazing stories so when his biological mother who also happened to be my

mother who also happened to be my

mother who also happened to be my biological mother was pregnant everyone

biological mother was pregnant everyone

biological mother was pregnant everyone in her environment told her that she

in her environment told her that she

in her environment told her that she should abort the baby she didn’t want to

should abort the baby she didn’t want to

should abort the baby she didn’t want to do that

do that

do that so in her despair she called my parents

so in her despair she called my parents

so in her despair she called my parents and asked them which they wanted to take

and asked them which they wanted to take

and asked them which they wanted to take the unborn baby they immediately agreed

the unborn baby they immediately agreed

the unborn baby they immediately agreed well and now you can see clouds sitting

well and now you can see clouds sitting

well and now you can see clouds sitting here in the audience as a law graduate

here in the audience as a law graduate

here in the audience as a law graduate what allows if you wouldn’t exist so in

what allows if you wouldn’t exist so in

what allows if you wouldn’t exist so in 1990

1990

1990 my parents had four foster kids with

my parents had four foster kids with

my parents had four foster kids with totally different backgrounds and I have

totally different backgrounds and I have

totally different backgrounds and I have to say our genetic material wasn’t –

to say our genetic material wasn’t –

to say our genetic material wasn’t – idea Renee’s parents were alcoholics

idea Renee’s parents were alcoholics

idea Renee’s parents were alcoholics thousand my mother was psychologically

thousand my mother was psychologically

thousand my mother was psychologically sick and also Sandra’s mother so my

sick and also Sandra’s mother so my

sick and also Sandra’s mother so my parents didn’t know if this genetic

parents didn’t know if this genetic

parents didn’t know if this genetic material would have a negative impact on

material would have a negative impact on

material would have a negative impact on our lives and in fact they didn’t care

our lives and in fact they didn’t care

our lives and in fact they didn’t care about him they just trusted that the

about him they just trusted that the

about him they just trusted that the love they feel for us would make

love they feel for us would make

love they feel for us would make everything work they believed that

everything work they believed that

everything work they believed that boundless love has a power of tenant

boundless love has a power of tenant

boundless love has a power of tenant destroyed and that true love a real

destroyed and that true love a real

destroyed and that true love a real family can be built understanding love

family can be built understanding love

family can be built understanding love is a concept that is multiplied it is

is a concept that is multiplied it is

is a concept that is multiplied it is not astonishing that my siblings and I

not astonishing that my siblings and I

not astonishing that my siblings and I beg for another brother or sister that’s

beg for another brother or sister that’s

beg for another brother or sister that’s been in 1995 Julia came to us and in

been in 1995 Julia came to us and in

been in 1995 Julia came to us and in 2002 and 2006 our family was completed

2002 and 2006 our family was completed

2002 and 2006 our family was completed with the last two members this mean who

with the last two members this mean who

with the last two members this mean who is mentally disabled in Fabian who have

is mentally disabled in Fabian who have

is mentally disabled in Fabian who have some social issues as you can see we are

some social issues as you can see we are

some social issues as you can see we are some kind of a patchwork family some of

some kind of a patchwork family some of

some kind of a patchwork family some of us are somehow related while others

us are somehow related while others

us are somehow related while others don’t share any type genetic material

don’t share any type genetic material

don’t share any type genetic material with anyone

with anyone

with anyone family it is not important to us we are

family it is not important to us we are

family it is not important to us we are connected through the love that our

connected through the love that our

connected through the love that our parents gave to us a parent’s love that

parents gave to us a parent’s love that

parents gave to us a parent’s love that survived critical phases for example

survived critical phases for example

survived critical phases for example like poverty a parent’s love that knew

like poverty a parent’s love that knew

like poverty a parent’s love that knew how to forgive a child who was screaming

how to forgive a child who was screaming

how to forgive a child who was screaming you are not my real parents a parent’s

you are not my real parents a parent’s

you are not my real parents a parent’s love that had no boundaries and always

love that had no boundaries and always

love that had no boundaries and always shall secure this is how love should be

shall secure this is how love should be

shall secure this is how love should be and this is what makes us a real family

and this is what makes us a real family

and this is what makes us a real family a family that cares for each other

a family that cares for each other

a family that cares for each other a family that loves each other a family

a family that loves each other a family

a family that loves each other a family that doesn’t care about genetic material

that doesn’t care about genetic material

that doesn’t care about genetic material Sangha for example has now two kids they

Sangha for example has now two kids they

Sangha for example has now two kids they are our niece and nephew I’m even the

are our niece and nephew I’m even the

are our niece and nephew I’m even the godmother of this little video for them

godmother of this little video for them

godmother of this little video for them we are their family and they are our

we are their family and they are our

we are their family and they are our family my parents are the Emperor and

family my parents are the Emperor and

family my parents are the Emperor and parents we belong to them and they

parents we belong to them and they

parents we belong to them and they belong to us even if we don’t share the

belong to us even if we don’t share the

belong to us even if we don’t share the same blood we never be belong together I

same blood we never be belong together I

same blood we never be belong together I am a very very lucky person because

am a very very lucky person because

am a very very lucky person because through the love that I experienced from

through the love that I experienced from

through the love that I experienced from my foster parents it was very easy for

my foster parents it was very easy for

my foster parents it was very easy for me to also love my biological mother I

me to also love my biological mother I

me to also love my biological mother I loved her for her selflessness for her

loved her for her selflessness for her

loved her for her selflessness for her capability of giving me away and an

capability of giving me away and an

capability of giving me away and an enemy a stable home I also loved her for

enemy a stable home I also loved her for

enemy a stable home I also loved her for her happiness that she always showed

her happiness that she always showed

her happiness that she always showed when she saw me happy so I never had to

when she saw me happy so I never had to

when she saw me happy so I never had to be afraid to love my parents to love my

be afraid to love my parents to love my

be afraid to love my parents to love my foster parents

foster parents

foster parents despite the amazing work that many

despite the amazing work that many

despite the amazing work that many foster parents to the legal system in

foster parents to the legal system in

foster parents to the legal system in Austria works more for the biological

Austria works more for the biological

Austria works more for the biological parents and for their foster parents so

parents and for their foster parents so

parents and for their foster parents so usually the court or the childcare

usually the court or the childcare

usually the court or the childcare service decide if a child has to be

service decide if a child has to be

service decide if a child has to be biological parents or not I as a foster

biological parents or not I as a foster

biological parents or not I as a foster child don’t think that’s always good

child don’t think that’s always good

child don’t think that’s always good sometimes the child has to see its

sometimes the child has to see its

sometimes the child has to see its biological parents even if even if it

biological parents even if even if it

biological parents even if even if it doesn’t want to even if it’s working in

doesn’t want to even if it’s working in

doesn’t want to even if it’s working in our family we also have this experience

our family we also have this experience

our family we also have this experience it’s a situation it’s really hard for

it’s a situation it’s really hard for

it’s a situation it’s really hard for the child but also for the foster

the child but also for the foster

the child but also for the foster parents because sometimes many times

parents because sometimes many times

parents because sometimes many times they are then pushed into a corner in my

they are then pushed into a corner in my

they are then pushed into a corner in my opinion in my opinion is very important

opinion in my opinion is very important

opinion in my opinion is very important to hear what foster parents have to say

to hear what foster parents have to say

to hear what foster parents have to say because usually they know what’s best

because usually they know what’s best

because usually they know what’s best for the child my mom for example is a

for the child my mom for example is a

for the child my mom for example is a very strong woman for her it was always

very strong woman for her it was always

very strong woman for her it was always very very important that we knew our

very very important that we knew our

very very important that we knew our genetic backgrounds I like to tell your

genetic backgrounds I like to tell your

genetic backgrounds I like to tell your story about that so when I was about

story about that so when I was about

story about that so when I was about five years old and someone just arrived

five years old and someone just arrived

five years old and someone just arrived in our family my mom wanted to visit my

in our family my mom wanted to visit my

in our family my mom wanted to visit my biological mom and went to the mental

biological mom and went to the mental

biological mom and went to the mental health clinic she couldn’t go straight

health clinic she couldn’t go straight

health clinic she couldn’t go straight to her and had to wait in a room

to her and had to wait in a room

to her and had to wait in a room when she entered that waiting room she

when she entered that waiting room she

when she entered that waiting room she said crying woman sitting there loving

said crying woman sitting there loving

said crying woman sitting there loving and hearing and open as my mom is she’s

and hearing and open as my mom is she’s

and hearing and open as my mom is she’s greatly went to that woman and comforted

greatly went to that woman and comforted

greatly went to that woman and comforted her so that woman told my mother story

her so that woman told my mother story

her so that woman told my mother story story about her little baby daughter who

story about her little baby daughter who

story about her little baby daughter who was taken away by child care services

was taken away by child care services

was taken away by child care services she even showed my mom a picture of her

she even showed my mom a picture of her

she even showed my mom a picture of her little baby daughter named Sandra that’s

little baby daughter named Sandra that’s

little baby daughter named Sandra that’s how my mother met son but biologically

how my mother met son but biologically

how my mother met son but biologically mother that’s how the contact between

mother that’s how the contact between

mother that’s how the contact between Sandra and her life biological mother

Sandra and her life biological mother

Sandra and her life biological mother was possible so my mom was very very

was possible so my mom was very very

was possible so my mom was very very happy about that she and my father were

happy about that she and my father were

happy about that she and my father were also very encouraging and Julia tried to

also very encouraging and Julia tried to

also very encouraging and Julia tried to find her biological background that’s

find her biological background that’s

find her biological background that’s very important my parents were never

very important my parents were never

very important my parents were never jealous they know

jealous they know

jealous they know that love needs to be shared and that’s

that love needs to be shared and that’s

that love needs to be shared and that’s a big point when you take in foster

a big point when you take in foster

a big point when you take in foster children you cannot eat well jealous you

children you cannot eat well jealous you

children you cannot eat well jealous you have to be very open open to the fact

have to be very open open to the fact

have to be very open open to the fact that there are biological parents who

that there are biological parents who

that there are biological parents who are somehow connected to your child but

are somehow connected to your child but

are somehow connected to your child but don’t be afraid a foster kid can love

don’t be afraid a foster kid can love

don’t be afraid a foster kid can love more than one parent because love is a

more than one parent because love is a

more than one parent because love is a passing forward concept never a

passing forward concept never a

passing forward concept never a competition so don’t be afraid but be

competition so don’t be afraid but be

competition so don’t be afraid but be loving as I told you before my sister is

loving as I told you before my sister is

loving as I told you before my sister is mean is mentally disabled that was never

mean is mentally disabled that was never

mean is mentally disabled that was never an issue for us we just went welcome to

an issue for us we just went welcome to

an issue for us we just went welcome to her as she was sometimes we may be felt

her as she was sometimes we may be felt

her as she was sometimes we may be felt sad from her because because we thought

sad from her because because we thought

sad from her because because we thought that her life might be harder than ours

that her life might be harder than ours

that her life might be harder than ours it soon we found out that she might be

it soon we found out that she might be

it soon we found out that she might be smaller than others might be slower

smaller than others might be slower

smaller than others might be slower maybe she will always be dependent on

maybe she will always be dependent on

maybe she will always be dependent on someone that and that’s what is

someone that and that’s what is

someone that and that’s what is important she is loving caring sweet and

important she is loving caring sweet and

important she is loving caring sweet and extremely panel really so we believed in

extremely panel really so we believed in

extremely panel really so we believed in her and she believed in us so this year

her and she believed in us so this year

her and she believed in us so this year she had enough confidence to attempt a

she had enough confidence to attempt a

she had enough confidence to attempt a special Olympic Winter Games here in

special Olympic Winter Games here in

special Olympic Winter Games here in Austria and guess what she won the gold

Austria and guess what she won the gold

Austria and guess what she won the gold medal

medal

medal [Music]

well Fabien it was a bit harder for us

well Fabien it was a bit harder for us siblings because his social issues were

siblings because his social issues were

siblings because his social issues were hard for us to accept but my parents

hard for us to accept but my parents

hard for us to accept but my parents even all the love they’ve got and

even all the love they’ve got and

even all the love they’ve got and through their example it couldn’t do

through their example it couldn’t do

through their example it couldn’t do anything else that welcome to so here in

anything else that welcome to so here in

anything else that welcome to so here in 13 years now and my parents are around

13 years now and my parents are around

13 years now and my parents are around 60 I see that they are exhausted I want

60 I see that they are exhausted I want

60 I see that they are exhausted I want them to relax now I want them to be able

them to relax now I want them to be able

them to relax now I want them to be able to cuddle their grandchildren so that’s

to cuddle their grandchildren so that’s

to cuddle their grandchildren so that’s why I offered to take in tagging with me

why I offered to take in tagging with me

why I offered to take in tagging with me to be this legal foster parent you see

to be this legal foster parent you see

to be this legal foster parent you see that is supported and loved goes on many

that is supported and loved goes on many

that is supported and loved goes on many people ask me why I would do them why at

people ask me why I would do them why at

people ask me why I would do them why at 13 I would take in a thirteen year old

13 I would take in a thirteen year old

13 I would take in a thirteen year old child with some problems well the only

child with some problems well the only

child with some problems well the only thing I could answer Danny was wouldn’t

thing I could answer Danny was wouldn’t

thing I could answer Danny was wouldn’t you take in your brother wouldn’t you

you take in your brother wouldn’t you

you take in your brother wouldn’t you break barriers for now thank you

break barriers for now thank you

break barriers for now thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *