The recent news about a one-
year old baby in Delhi reaching
puberty shed light on the rare
condition that is 'precocious
puberty' – where a child's body
develops beyond his or her years
to exhibit all the features of a
pubescent adolescent.
And in 1939, this very condition
led a young girl of five years
and seven months in Peru to
give birth to a baby boy –
making her the youngest
mother in recorded history.
Lina Medina, born in Ticrapo in
Peru, was brought in to the
doctor's office due to
abdominal swelling with her
parents under the impression
that it was a tumour. It was
discovered then that Lina was
over seven months pregnant.
Dr. Gerardo Lozada observed that
the girl's mammary glands and
sexual organs were fully
developed as well. A baby boy
was delivered through a C-
section on May 14, 1939 and
named Gerardo after Lina's
doctor.
Young Gerardo grew up under
the impression that Lina was
his elder sister, and discovered
her true identity when he was
10. What's more, he led a
normal, healthy life until in
1979, when bone marrow
disease claimed his life at 40
years of age.
Police arrested Lina's father on
suspicions of incest and rape,
but he was later released due
to lack of evidence. The identity
of Gerardo's father was never
determined.
Lina's story has been questioned
by many along the years, but X-
rays, photographs and detailed
hospital documentation are
proof of this hard-to-believe
story.
And believe it or not, this is the
truth behind the world's
youngest mother.
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