In Napoli, Italy, Anatolia Vertadella, a 101-year-old woman,
has given birth to a nine-pound baby named Francesco after a controversial
ovarian transplant widely criticized by medical professionals because of her
advanced age.
The illegal and controversial surgical operation was
performed in a private clinic in Turkey, where European laws on ovarian
transplants are not applied.
According to the centenarian mother who does not want to
reveal the name of the clinic where the operation was performed, "I am
very grateful to all the team of doctors who decided to continue with the
operation," he admitted in tears. "I am very grateful to have given
birth to my 17th child. This is a true blessing and a testimony to the power of
the creator," he told local journalists.
"For so long, I've felt useless to God, I could not
procreate since I turned 48 when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. For a
long time I believed that God was punishing me for having only 16 children, but
in his pious generosity, Granted with fertility once more, "acknowledges
the fervent centennial Catholic.
Although he admits that the procedure is very controversial,
Dr. Alexandro Popolicchi believes that the final decision depends on his
patient.
"Who am I to judge if it is the right thing? She has
given birth to a beautiful baby and this miraculous birth is definitely a gift
from God," he told reporters.
"The operation was completely legal in Turkey and
carried out by a handful of expert surgeons.The lady is in great health for her
age and I predict that she still has many good years in front of her to share
with her son. This world unwanted or by accident.Isn't it a beautiful thing to
know that this child comes to life in a loving home? "He asked reporters.
Although Ms. Vertadella's husband has died since 1998, the
centenary widow has managed to find a sperm donor to make birth possible.
"I met Francesco's father on the Internet while I was trying to find a
father for my son. This 26-year-old man is a Catholic and that's all that's
important to me.
"I wanted my son to be born in a union sanctified by
the Catholic Church. I know that we are not married and that he will not play a
role in Francesco's life, but I wrote to the pope to ask for his acquittal.
After the Pope in his honor and for what I think he must find a place in his
heart to forgive me in this particular situation.I still love my deceased
husband and wish to remain a widow until I left this land but I needed the seed
of this young catholic Fervent to fulfill the will of God, "he explained.
The oldest mother in the world was believed to be Malegwale
Ramokgopa, a woman born in South Africa in 1839 who allegedly gave birth to
twins three days after celebrating her 92nd birthday on October 3, 1931.