Motherhood comes at different times for every woman — early in life, after years of waiting, or sometimes never. In 2006, Maria Carmen del Bousada de Lara from Cádiz, Spain, became the world’s oldest mother at 66, giving birth to twin boys, Christian and Pau, through IVF in California. To qualify, she claimed she was 55.
Her choice drew sharp criticism, even from family, but Maria believed no one should be bound by society’s timeline for motherhood. Six months after giving birth, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She never told her sons, saying they were too young to understand.
Maria died in 2009, leaving her boys in the care of relatives who love and support them. While some call her decision selfish, others see it as her right. Her story remains a reminder of both the power of choice and the fragility of time.