Folge deinem Herzen (2006)

Surgeon Katrin Berger has a successful career as a manager in the pharmaceutical industry. After a botched operation left her traumatized—a trauma she could not overcome—she was forced to leave medicine and become a businesswoman. At the time, she gave up not only her dream career but also the great love of her life, Max Berger. Fifteen years later, the two meet again by chance, and when Katrin finds herself feeling for him as she did back then, they get married. Since she cannot fly to Africa with him right away, she follows him to Namibia a short time later. He lives there with his two children after the death of his wife, and has built the bush hospital “Guguletho” together with his friend Sam Vanderloo. When Katrin arrives at the airport, she is surprised that no one has come to pick her up. She takes a taxi to the bush hospital and learns there that Max was killed in a Jeep accident. Katrin is devastated and wants to fly straight back to Germany after the funeral. But first, Max’s two children have to be told about the accident. They have just returned from a holiday camp and know nothing of the tragedy, so Katrin reluctantly takes on the task. It is a mistake, because now the two reject the “white woman” even more. Since their mother’s death, Makhulu has been looking after them, and she had already turned the children against their new mother beforehand. Sam Vanderloo tells Katrin that under African law the children are now in the custody of the state, and would have to go to boarding school if Katrin returned to Germany. But with all the hostility she faces from the children and Makhulu, she thinks she can hardly bear it. Only Sam urges her to be there for Neo and Lindiwe, so they will not have to leave the home they know. Trusting what Max would have wanted, she decides to stay for now. Gradually, she manages to win the children’s acceptance. Sam is pleased that Katrin is making an effort to reach the children’s hearts, and he is also glad that she is making herself useful at the hospital as a nurse. However, she refuses at any cost to operate again. That changes when Neo needs help. An acute ruptured appendix forces Katrin to pick up a scalpel again after years away from surgery. Although overcoming her fear is difficult, Makhulu unexpectedly helps her with her spiritual powers. The successful operation not only saves Neo’s life, but finally helps Katrin overcome her trauma. Katrin decides to stay in Namibia and take the vacant doctor’s position at the hospital. Makhulu, too, has realized what is best for the children and makes room in their hearts for their new mother.