Hairdresser Finds Her Roots: The Truth of My Adoption Highlighted a Dark Past

Hermine was 12 months old when she went into a displaced persons orphanage camp during the restoration of Austria after World War II. Gertrud, her 17-year-old mother adored her baby girl, but had no family to help her, no money to support her, and no way to keep Hermine.

This is the story of Hermine, now Mickee who, for many years believed about herself only how the paperwork described her: "illegitimate," a "displaced person," and, "father unknown." These words haunted her long into adulthood. She knew she was adopted, but never knew why. Often as a child, she would make up the family that she really wanted or convinced herself that her real mother would find her.

Taking a child out of their country of origin and giving them a new life is a kindness that cuts. You will see how difficult and emotional this process was for Hermine and continues to be for thousands of adopted children.

It takes courage, faith, and a big heart to adopt a child. Mickee hopes to encourage truth-telling, love, forgiveness, and discover the real joy that being adopted can be despite its hardships.

To prospective adoptive parents, she asks, do you have what it takes to raise a child that is not biologically yours? And to adopted children, can you honestly say it doesn't matter who your birth parent was? Hairdresser Finds Her Roots explains Mickee's adoption story and the extremes it put her through. In the end, you decide which side of the story of my adoption you can firmly stand on.