Diagnosed with cancer

As per The Guardian newspaper, she said at the time: “Often circumstances put you between a rock and a hard place, and maybe things shouldn’t have been done in the way they were done, but that was the only way to achieve the thing I had always dreamed of.”

Naturally, not everyone agreed with her.

Chief among her critics were members of her own family, who labeled her selfish. Maria even said that she had hidden her pregnancy for a time, and that her relatives thought she was joking when she decided to tell them.

In 2006, Maria gave birth to a set of healthy twin boys, Christian and Pau, becoming the oldest mom in the world in the process.

Tragically, though, she would not get to see them grow up. Just six months after giving birth, the new mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“They’re still babies, so I haven’t told them,” she said at the time. “They’re too young for these things.”

Maria Carmen del Bousada children

In a turn of events, Maria’s family was forced to step in and assist her in the raising of Christian and Pau. The retired mom passed away in 2009, only getting to enjoy a few short years with her boys.

Maria’s brother Ricardo commented: “I think she has done this too late in life … but now they are here. We love these beautiful boys.”

Not only that, but Pilar Pinto, a resident of Cadiz, where Maria lived, provided an update on how life is going for Christian and Pau.

“They are being well taken care of and are in great shape,” he said. “I see them here often in town.”

Pinto added: “God didn’t let her enjoy her children very much. He should have given her more time.”

For her part, Maria remained resolute to the very end with regards to her decision to have children later in life.

Such a beautiful story. I don’t know about you, but I think all women should reserve the right to decide when they want to have children.

What do you think about Maria’s decision to have babies in her 60s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box on Facebook.

Meanwhile, share this article on social media to help us keep the debate going. Rest in peace, Maria!