07-15-2009, 11:53 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnew...l?ITO=1490
World's oldest mother dies of cancer just three years after giving birth to twin boys
By Tom Worden
Last updated at 3:18 PM on 15th July 2009
A pensioner who had twins at the age of 66 has died before her sons have reached their third birthday.
Maria del Carmen Bousada became the world's oldest mother when she gave birth to Christian and Pau in 2006.
But within months of having her boys, the former shop worker - who does not have a partner - was diagnosed with cancer.
She died on Saturday, leaving her twins orphans. It is unclear who will care for her children.
Maria Bousada
Controversial: Maria Bousada gave birth to twins Pau and Christian after undergoing IVF
Miss Bousada's brother Ricardo said the family had already buried his sister.
He said: 'The twins are doing brilliantly. They are very well
'I'm not going to discuss who will be looking after the boys.'
Miss Bousada, from Cadiz, Spain, decided she wanted children after her mother Eugenia, who she cared for in her old age, died aged 101 in 2005.
She first consulted doctors at a private clinic in Spain but was told she was too old for IVF treatment.
There is no legal age limit on artificial insemination in Spain but clinics generally refuse to take on women aged more than 50 who are at far greater risk of heart problems and illnesses like diabetes.
Undeterred by the doctors warnings, Miss Bousada sold a flat for £40,000 and travelled to the United States to a private fertility clinic.
At this point she claimed to be 55 in case doctors at the Pacific Fertility Center in Los Angeles also refused to treat her because of her age.
Miss Bousada, whose last relationship with a man occurred some ten years previously, bought donor eggs and sperm from a catalogue for £20,000.
She chose an egg from an 18-year-old brunette and sperm from a blond-haired, blue-eyed Italian-American.
The treatment was a success and Miss Bousada gave birth by Caesarian in 2006, just a few days short of her 67th birthday.
Her pregnancy was condemned by campaign groups and even by her own family who said she was 'selfish and irresponsible' for having children so late in life.
But Miss Bousada defended herself, claiming she had always wanted to be a mother but had not had the opportunity.
'My mother lived to 101 and I have every reason to believe longevity runs in my family,' she said, shortly after having her twins. She claimed to feel healthier than ever.
However, within a year of having her boys she was diagnosed with cancer. There was some suggestion that fertility drugs used during her treatment had helped the disease spread.
Record-breaking: Omkari Panwar was 70 when she gave birth last year, overtaking Miss Bousada as the world's oldest mother
Miss Bousada had gone through the menopause 18 years before giving birth to her twin boys.
She had never been married and lived in a two-bedroom flat above a supermarket.
Neighbours said she rarely ventured out and spent most of her time inside with her children.
As her twins approached their first birthday, Miss Boursada gave an interview to a Spanish television show and admitted she had been diagnosed with a 'very serious illness'.
She said at the time: 'The little ones are beautiful, very chubby, very big.
'At the moment I am still here. I have my family, the two children have their godfather.
'I have a girl who helps me look after the children. I am always there for them. I always have help.
'I'm not thinking about fear in my life at the moment but of course you never know.
'I am well at the moment but you never know how things will work out. I have always been healthy and never had problems.'
Asked if she had any regrets over her decision to have children, she replied: 'No, not at all, not at all. No.
'Yes, I think about myself, but the children I was lacking, they have a family.'
And asked who will look after the children if she dies, she replied: 'I have a nephew, I have their godfather who is very good with the children.
'They are not going to be alone. But come on, I'm not thinking at the moment that I'm going to...
'The love that these children receive, very few children get that amount of love. That's the truth.'
Defying nature: Looking younger than her 66 years, Elizabeth Munro with her newborn son
Defying nature: Elizabeth Munro became Britain's oldest mother after having her son at the age of 66 in May
When news of the birth broke, experts widely condemned Miss Bousada's actions.
Rafael Bernabeu, president of the National Association of Assisted Reproduction Clinics, (ANACER) described the birth as 'outside of all logic.
'It is illogical not only because of the risk to the mother but also because the children will inevitably lose there mother at a young age.
'Those children will become orphans during their adolescence.'
And the doctor who carried out her treatment in the US criticised her for lying about her age.
Dr Vicken Sahakian claimed Spaniard Carmela Bousada had falsified records showing she was 55 to get IVF treatment at his Los Angeles clinic.
He said: 'I feel duped and taken advantage of. It could have had a bad ending. She could have died, the babies could have died.'
Since Miss Bousada gave birth, even older women have become mothers.
The oldest mother in the world is believed to be Indian Omkari Panwar, who had a twins - a boy and a girl - last year at the age of 70.
In May, Elizabeth Munro, from Suffolk became Britain's oldest mother when she gave birth to a son at the age of 66.
World's oldest mother dies of cancer just three years after giving birth to twin boys
By Tom Worden
Last updated at 3:18 PM on 15th July 2009
A pensioner who had twins at the age of 66 has died before her sons have reached their third birthday.
Maria del Carmen Bousada became the world's oldest mother when she gave birth to Christian and Pau in 2006.
But within months of having her boys, the former shop worker - who does not have a partner - was diagnosed with cancer.
She died on Saturday, leaving her twins orphans. It is unclear who will care for her children.
Maria Bousada
Controversial: Maria Bousada gave birth to twins Pau and Christian after undergoing IVF
Miss Bousada's brother Ricardo said the family had already buried his sister.
He said: 'The twins are doing brilliantly. They are very well
'I'm not going to discuss who will be looking after the boys.'
Miss Bousada, from Cadiz, Spain, decided she wanted children after her mother Eugenia, who she cared for in her old age, died aged 101 in 2005.
She first consulted doctors at a private clinic in Spain but was told she was too old for IVF treatment.
There is no legal age limit on artificial insemination in Spain but clinics generally refuse to take on women aged more than 50 who are at far greater risk of heart problems and illnesses like diabetes.
Undeterred by the doctors warnings, Miss Bousada sold a flat for £40,000 and travelled to the United States to a private fertility clinic.
At this point she claimed to be 55 in case doctors at the Pacific Fertility Center in Los Angeles also refused to treat her because of her age.
Miss Bousada, whose last relationship with a man occurred some ten years previously, bought donor eggs and sperm from a catalogue for £20,000.
She chose an egg from an 18-year-old brunette and sperm from a blond-haired, blue-eyed Italian-American.
The treatment was a success and Miss Bousada gave birth by Caesarian in 2006, just a few days short of her 67th birthday.
Her pregnancy was condemned by campaign groups and even by her own family who said she was 'selfish and irresponsible' for having children so late in life.
But Miss Bousada defended herself, claiming she had always wanted to be a mother but had not had the opportunity.
'My mother lived to 101 and I have every reason to believe longevity runs in my family,' she said, shortly after having her twins. She claimed to feel healthier than ever.
However, within a year of having her boys she was diagnosed with cancer. There was some suggestion that fertility drugs used during her treatment had helped the disease spread.
Record-breaking: Omkari Panwar was 70 when she gave birth last year, overtaking Miss Bousada as the world's oldest mother
Miss Bousada had gone through the menopause 18 years before giving birth to her twin boys.
She had never been married and lived in a two-bedroom flat above a supermarket.
Neighbours said she rarely ventured out and spent most of her time inside with her children.
As her twins approached their first birthday, Miss Boursada gave an interview to a Spanish television show and admitted she had been diagnosed with a 'very serious illness'.
She said at the time: 'The little ones are beautiful, very chubby, very big.
'At the moment I am still here. I have my family, the two children have their godfather.
'I have a girl who helps me look after the children. I am always there for them. I always have help.
'I'm not thinking about fear in my life at the moment but of course you never know.
'I am well at the moment but you never know how things will work out. I have always been healthy and never had problems.'
Asked if she had any regrets over her decision to have children, she replied: 'No, not at all, not at all. No.
'Yes, I think about myself, but the children I was lacking, they have a family.'
And asked who will look after the children if she dies, she replied: 'I have a nephew, I have their godfather who is very good with the children.
'They are not going to be alone. But come on, I'm not thinking at the moment that I'm going to...
'The love that these children receive, very few children get that amount of love. That's the truth.'
Defying nature: Looking younger than her 66 years, Elizabeth Munro with her newborn son
Defying nature: Elizabeth Munro became Britain's oldest mother after having her son at the age of 66 in May
When news of the birth broke, experts widely condemned Miss Bousada's actions.
Rafael Bernabeu, president of the National Association of Assisted Reproduction Clinics, (ANACER) described the birth as 'outside of all logic.
'It is illogical not only because of the risk to the mother but also because the children will inevitably lose there mother at a young age.
'Those children will become orphans during their adolescence.'
And the doctor who carried out her treatment in the US criticised her for lying about her age.
Dr Vicken Sahakian claimed Spaniard Carmela Bousada had falsified records showing she was 55 to get IVF treatment at his Los Angeles clinic.
He said: 'I feel duped and taken advantage of. It could have had a bad ending. She could have died, the babies could have died.'
Since Miss Bousada gave birth, even older women have become mothers.
The oldest mother in the world is believed to be Indian Omkari Panwar, who had a twins - a boy and a girl - last year at the age of 70.
In May, Elizabeth Munro, from Suffolk became Britain's oldest mother when she gave birth to a son at the age of 66.
