Ursula von der Leyen is set to become Europe's new head. - The untimely passing of her sibling had a profound impact on her.
CDU politician Ursula von der Leyen (65) generally keeps her personal life private. However, ahead of the European elections, she opened up about a tragic event from her childhood that continues to impact her today in an interview with Bild. When she was 13 years old, her sister Eva-Benita, two years younger, passed away from cancer. More than five decades later, the loss still lingers.
"A difficult time"
The family resided in Brussels at that time, and von der Leyen remembers it as a "dark period." "Her death impacted us significantly. As a family. I can still vividly recollect as a child seeing my parents' helplessness and despair because they couldn't help her." Her sister experienced intense pain, and the medical treatments available at the time were inadequate. "And then the long, slow process of dying. It was difficult."
Her mother made every effort to keep Eva-Benita at home rather than in the hospital, despite doctors preferring to keep children in hospital. "That had a profound impact on me," von der Leyen stated. "It's likely that this experience contributed to my later decision to study medicine."
Everything transformed after her passing
Shortly following Eva-Benita's death, the family relocated to Germany. Her mother was pregnant again. "Three months after her sister's passing, my fifth brother was born and the family structure shifted," the politician remarked. "Previously, we had two boys, two girls, two boys in age. When my sister passed, I became the only girl in the family. This was a significant turning point in my life. Everything became different and new for me, along with Germany and puberty."
Being left without her close companion only intensified her grief. "We were two years apart and shared everything. She was always by my side, and I was always there for her as well. And since we had two older and two younger brothers, we bonded tightly." She had lost a dear confidant: "Her death taught me the importance of cherishing the present moment, as it can disappear at any instant."
Naturally, von der Leyen continues to cherish the time she spends with her family, including trips to Austria, where her sister is buried. "Given that we were uncertain about where we would settle in Germany, she was laid to rest in Austria. On a mountain meadow that had been our family's vacation spot since 1968. It remains a family site till today."
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- As the CDU politician Ursula von der Leyen prepares to lead Europe, she reflects on the loss of her sister Eva-Benita during European elections.
- In an interview, von der Leyen mentioned that her sister's death from cancer in Brussels at the age of 13 had a significant impact on her, influencing her decision to study medicine.
- Recalling the difficulty of the situation, von der Leyen stated that her mother kept Eva-Benita at home despite recommendations for hospital care, which later affected her perspective on healthcare.
- The passing of her sister led to a shift in von der Leyen's family structure, with her becoming the only girl in the family after her siblings relocated to Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
