Mother Welcomed Her First Child at 66 and Has Lived with Public Rejection since Then

The memories of the day you become a parent will be ones you hold dear forever. A unique child who depends on you has just entered the world. You must provide them with the finest environment and encouragement while they work to achieve their goals.Adriana Iliescu gave birth to her first child in 2005, and because she was 66 at the time, her story received extensive media coverage.Adriana was overjoyed when her daughter Eliza was born.

The elderly mother has been out of the public eye for 17 years, but some recently released, well publicized images of her daughter have brought her back.There are those days that can completely alter someone’s life. Undoubtedly, every parent who has ever experienced parenthood will concur that it is impossible to adequately express the moment you greet your child.When you first catch that cute child looking up at you, it’s the sweetest sensation in the world.Some people are born into history books and become immortal.When Eliza Iliescu was born in Romania in 2005, she had that exact experience. Because of the girl, the girl’s mother made history.
At 66 years old, Adriana Iliescu became the oldest mother ever. Eliza’s birth garnered media attention for obvious reasons, earning Adriana a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.In 2010, Adriana opened up about motherhood and shared her experiences after receiving severe criticism after giving birth. The people thought she was selfish and unduly old.“The mirror is cruel to women, but if you judge me by my vitality, I’d say I’m a young lady. When I’m a little more exhausted, I feel like I’m 37, yet I just feel like I’m 27. Women more than half my age are healthier than I am.“People think it’s humorous to refer to me as ‘grandma,’ but Eliza wasn’t there to make me appear younger. I don’t ever feel my age.Adriana, who was 71 at the time, also said during her conversation with the British tabloid that she planned to have another child.She said, “Medically, it’s doable. It could be done, since I understand experiments with a 70-year-old woman are currently taking place in England. I am in good health and believe that having another child in the future is conceivable, but I’m not in a rush right now.Adriana and Eliza have a similar bond to most mothers and daughters over time. Eliza is a young child who is tremendously joyful, humorous, and intelligent.Although a lot of people have an opinion about Adriana’s age, the mother claims that Adriana is a great mother and takes good care of Eliza.“I don’t consume alcohol or smoke. Eliza will be 20 years old when I die if I survive as long as my parents did. I still believe I have a lot to offer her.Adriana did not plan on getting pregnant at such a late age. When Adriana Iliescu was a young newlywed, she was forced to have an abortion due to health issues. She was 24 when her husband abandoned her.Adriana subsequently focused on other facets of her life, such as her job as a professor at a Romanian university.As I was working, “I couldn’t even think about a child.”But I wasn’t ready to have children until I finished my doctorate at age 37. However, IVF did not exist back then.Adriana was 57 years old when in-vitro fertilization became an option in Romania. Adriana’s first pregnancy in 2000 resulted in miscarriage despite her attending counseling.

Many people turned their backs on her because she wanted to have children. They thought Adriana was acting immorally, but she persisted in her desire to have children and never gave up.

Eliza was eventually born after receiving treatment from Dr. Bogdan Marinescu in Bucharest. Adriana had really been expecting triplets, but only Eliza survived after the other two died in the womb. Unfortunately, because of her premature delivery, she had to spend a lot of time in the NICU.
Adriana, who was deeply religious, wanted to baptize her daughter immediately after she had grown into a strong young child. Sadly, some religious organizations opposed Adriana having a kid at such a late age. At Eliza’s baptism, Adriana encountered weird looks from the nuns, one of them even referred to her as “the creation of dark energy.”
Adriana claims that Eliza is a gift from God. Today’s Adriana Iliescu

Adriana gave birth to her first child in 2022, which has been 17 years ago. Adriana is usually mistaken for Eliza’s grandmother, but they are currently having a great time together.
But the seasoned mother is still in great physical and mental shape. She is a very loving person, and that is what it takes to nurture a child.

Adriana is 83 years old and still writes. She claims to be in good health and has published more than 25 children’s novels. She appears to be a fantastic mother, but she still holds down a part-time professorship in Bucharest.
Adriana has also ensured that Eliza’s future is in capable hands.

When Adriana chose to use IVF, she made an agreement with the physician. He will be the girl’s godfather and legal guardian in the event that Adriana passes away.
Eliza, who is 17 years old, wants to study and attend college, but Adriana initially prefers to keep her family’s private affairs private. Eliza, who always makes the honor roll, continues on her mother’s academic tradition.

Compared to many people in their 25s and 30s, she appeared to be performing better. She is COMMITTED to her child and has no outside interests to divert her. Her daughter has an amazing energy and seems to be very content, happy, and well-rounded.

On Thanksgiving Eve, I Took in an Abandoned Child Only to Uncover My Boyfriend’s True Intentions — Story of the Day

On Thanksgiving Eve, a single moment unraveled everything I thought I knew about love, family, and the future I’d planned. One unexpected encounter forced me to face a choice I never saw coming.

My cart was brimming with everything needed for the perfect Thanksgiving Eve: turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and even a bouquet of fresh flowers for the centerpiece. It was a ritual I loved, a chance to create something warm and special, even if Paul and I hadn’t fully agreed on what “special” meant for our future.

Passing the baby aisle, I couldn’t help but slow down. Rows of soft onesies and tiny shoes drew my gaze. I imagined the life I longed for—children laughing, little hands helping set the table. Paul hadn’t warmed to the idea yet, but I told myself he would someday.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I need to grab some wine,” Paul said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Why don’t you finish up here? I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Okay. Don’t be long.”

He leaned in, kissed my cheek lightly, and walked away toward the liquor section. Before I could reach for the whipped cream on my list, a frantic voice startled me.

“Excuse me! Please, can you hold her for just a minute?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I turned to see a woman, her face pale and her eyes darting around. Without waiting for my answer, she placed a small child in my arms.

“I’ll be right back!” she said hurriedly and disappeared into the aisles.

The little girl was so light in my arms, clutching a well-worn stuffed rabbit and staring up at me. Her light curls framed her face, giving her an angelic, fragile look.

“Uh… hi there,” I said, crouching down to her level and carefully setting her on her feet. “What’s your name?”

“Ella,” she whispered, holding her rabbit closer.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“That’s a beautiful name.

I glanced around, hoping to catch sight of her mother, but the aisle was empty. Minutes ticked by, turning into ten. Unease settled deep in my stomach.

I couldn’t wait any longer, so I walked with Ella to the security desk to seek help to locate her mother. The staff quickly made an announcement over the intercom, but no one came forward. Ella pressed herself against my side.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“Mommy said I’d spend the holidays with a new mommy,” she whispered.

The words hit me like a blow. My throat tightened as I fought back the surge of emotion.

“Lisa?” Paul approached, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and frowning as he took in the scene.

“What’s going on?” he asked, glancing between Ella and me.

I explained quickly, my words tumbling out.

“We need to take her to the police,” Paul said firmly. “They’ll know what to do.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated, looking down at Ella. Her tiny hand was still gripping mine like I was the only thing anchoring her to safety.

“Paul, I…”

“This isn’t something you can solve, Lisa,” he interrupted. “It’s not safe to keep her with us.”

I nodded, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest as we walked to the car. Ella climbed into the backseat. She didn’t cry or fuss, she just stared quietly out the window as the streetlights flickered past.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

Paul drove in silence. I glanced at Ella. Her small figure looked so vulnerable huddled in the back seat. With every passing mile, the pull to protect her only grew stronger.

“Is that turkey in the bag?” Ella’s small voice broke the silence.

“Yes,” I said, turning slightly to meet her gaze. “It’s for Thanksgiving dinner.”

“What’s Thanksgiving?” she asked, tilting her head as though trying to puzzle it out.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“It’s a holiday where we celebrate everything we’re thankful for,” I explained. “We gather with family, share a big meal, and spend time together.”

She frowned slightly. “I’ve never had a Thanksgiving. Is turkey good?”

The simplicity of her question hit me harder than I expected.

“Turkey’s delicious. And cranberry sauce, too. Have you ever tried it?”

Ella shook her head, clutching the rabbit closer. “No. Mommy says holidays are for other people.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

My heart ached for her. As the police station came into view, I felt my pulse quicken.

“Paul, pull over,” I said suddenly, pointing to a gas station on the right.

“What?” He glanced at me, his brows knitting together. “We’re almost there, Lisa. Let’s just get this done.”

“Please, Paul. I need a moment to think.”

With a huff of frustration, he turned into the gas station and parked by the pumps. I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out into the crisp November air.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Paul followed. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not sure we should take her to the station yet. She’s just a child, Paul. She’s never had a Thanksgiving dinner. She’s never even tasted turkey.”

“And how is that our problem?” he shot back, gesturing toward the car. “Lisa, this isn’t our responsibility.”

“Maybe not. But doesn’t she deserve one happy evening? One night where she feels safe and loved?”

“Are you serious right now? You want to bring a stranger’s kid into our home? Do you even hear yourself?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I nodded. At that moment, Paul strode to the car, opened the back door, and motioned for Ella to get out.

“Paul, wait…” I started, panic rising in my chest.

“Good luck, Lisa,” he said coldly, climbing back into the driver’s seat.

Without another glance, he pulled away, leaving Ella and me standing at the gas station.

“It’s okay,” Ella whispered, looking up at me with a brave smile.

Her words both broke and steadied me. I knew I couldn’t turn back.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

Ella and I returned to the store. As we wandered through the aisles, I let her pick out a few extra decorations—paper turkeys, bright orange streamers, and even a tiny plush turkey she hugged tightly as if it were a long-lost friend.

“Can we get these too?” she asked, pointing to a pack of colorful paper napkins with cartoon pilgrims on them.

“Of course,” I said, smiling. “Anything else?”

She tilted her head thoughtfully, then grabbed a bag of marshmallows. “These.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I couldn’t go back to Paul’s place, but thankfully, I had my small apartment. It wasn’t festive or particularly grand, but it was mine. So, arriving at my apartment, we began the transformation.

Ella’s enthusiasm was contagious as she helped unpack the bags. Later, she insisted on stirring the cranberry sauce, her small hands gripping the wooden spoon tightly as she stood on a step stool.

“Is this okay?” she asked, looking up at me.

“It’s perfect,” I assured her. “You’re a natural.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

The apartment began to glow from the warmth Ella brought into the space. When the turkey was finally ready, I carried it to the table, and Ella gasped as if I had presented her with a treasure.

“It’s so big,” she whispered, her eyes as round as the plates I’d set out.

“Let’s eat!” I said, pulling out a chair for her.

She hesitated, standing by her seat. “This is like a real Thanksgiving, right?”

“It is. The realest one I’ve ever had.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

We sat together, and Ella’s laughter rang out as she tried cranberry sauce for the first time, her face scrunching up before she declared it “weird but good.”

Ella sat on the floor, cradling her plush turkey and staring at the glowing candles.

“Tomorrow, it’ll be over. I know I can’t stay.”

I knelt beside her, pulling her into my arms. “Ella, I wish you could. But tonight is ours, okay? No one can take this away.”

She nodded against my shoulder. “Thank you for today. It was the best day ever.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Meanwhile, a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. I opened the door to find two representatives from Child Protective Services standing there. Behind them, Paul stood silently.

The CPS worker knelt at Ella’s level. “Hi, sweetie. We’re here to take you somewhere safe.”

Ella’s grip on my arm tightened. “Do I have to go?”

“They’ll take good care of you. I promise.”

Her small hand slipped from mine as they gently led her away. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she kept looking back at me, her turkey clutched tightly to her chest.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

As the door closed behind the CPS workers, I stood frozen, the emptiness of the apartment settling over me. Ella’s laughter still echoed faintly in my ears, but the warmth of the evening had vanished. I barely registered Paul’s footsteps as he walked up behind me.

“Well,” he said casually, his tone almost cheerful. “Let’s head to my place. We can still have that Thanksgiving dinner we planned.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I turned to him slowly. “Paul… are you serious?”

My voice wavered, caught somewhere between disbelief and anger. He frowned slightly as if he couldn’t quite grasp what I was upset about.

“What? I know tonight’s been… different, but we can still salvage it. I’ve got everything ready back home.”

“Paul,” I said, my words sharp, “how can you even think about that right now?”

“Is this about earlier? Look, I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have left you two like that. I… I overreacted.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

I stared at him. “You weren’t thinking clearly? Paul, a little girl needed one evening of love, of feeling like someone cared about her!”

He stepped closer, his hands raised in a gesture of appeasement.

“I get it. And I’m sorry. But Lisa, you can’t let this ruin everything. We’re good together as we are. Why complicate things with kids?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“Paul, this isn’t just about Ella. I’m 36. It’s about the family I’ve dreamed of.”

“Lisa, I love you. Isn’t that enough?”

“Not really. Not in the way I need us to be.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I am.”

“I guess this is it, then,” Paul muttered, heading for the door.

I didn’t stop him. The life I had imagined with him was nothing more than an illusion.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

That night, sleep was impossible. I lay awake, my mind replaying every moment with Ella. By morning, I drove to CPS and explained my intentions. The caseworker warned me of the challenges.

“These processes take time. It won’t be easy.”

“I’ll wait,” I said without hesitation. “However long it takes.”

Weeks passed. Finally, on Christmas Eve, the call came. My approval had been finalized. Ella was coming home.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

When I opened the door to see her standing there, her small face breaking into a smile, the weight of the past months disappeared. She ran into my arms, hugging me tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Welcome home, Ella.”

That night, we decorated a Christmas tree together, stringing lights and hanging ornaments. Ella became my miracle, the heart of every holiday to come, and the family I had dreamed of for so long.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I thought adopting a child would complete our family, but nothing prepared me for the challenges that followed. Just when everything seemed to fall apart, an unexpected turn changed our lives forever.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

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