Maria Carmen del Bousada, the Spanish woman who caused a controversy when she became the world’s oldest mother at age 66, has died from cancer, orphaning her two-year-old twin sons.
Bousada traveled to the United States to undergo in vitro fertilization at a Los Angeles clinic. She later admitted that she lied to get around the age limits at the clinic, telling doctors she was 55.
Bousada gave birth to twins Cristian and Pau at a clinic in Barcelona in December 2006. She was diagnosed with a tumor a year later.
The twins will probably be left in the care of family, with reports saying the boys’ cousins, who are thought to be in their 30s or 40s, are the most likely candidates.
Omkari Panwar, from India, is now believed to be the oldest woman to have given birth. Although she had no birth certificate, she claimed to be 70 when she had a twin boy and girl in July 2009.
Britain’s Elizabeth Adeney gave birth to a son in May at the age of 66.