Featured Image Credit: Newsflash
Topics: World News
Poppy Bilderbeck
A woman has been discovered who could take the crown of the world's oldest living person.
Currently, the person believed to be the oldest in the world is 118-year-old French nun Lucile Randon.
However, when a medical mobile unit was dispatched by city officials to a residence in the village of Bom Jesus da Lapa, in Brazil, they found Maria Gomes dos Reis who could now be in with a chance of taking over the title.
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According to her birth certificate, Gomes dos Reis was born on 16 June 1900.
That would make her 121 years old.
Her birth certificate also revealed she still lives in the same village she was born in.
Up until eight years ago - at the age of 113 - Gomes dos Reis was reportedly still fairly active.
Her granddaughter Célia Gomes explained how she went to mass, did laundry and cooked meals.
However, Gomes dos Reis has since moved in with Célia after becoming bed bound.
Célia takes care of her grandmother aided by Gomes dos Reis' 13 great-grandchildren - including Vitória Stefani and Ivanilde Gomes - and six great-great-grandchildren.
While admitting everyone knew Gomes dos Reis had an 'advanced age,' Célia expressed her surprise at finding out the significance of her grandmother's years.
"Knowing that she is the oldest in the world? Even we are amazed," she said.
However, Gomes dos Reis' impressive age has impacted her memory.
Vitória explained while her great-grandmother is 'still aware of many things' and 'talks' to them, that she sometimes 'forgets who she is' and is 'more than often [...] not remembering' things.
Despite the impact her old age has had on her memory, Ivanilde reflected on what an inspiration Gomes dos Reis has been to her family.
She said: "I never lacked anything, and she always said the following phrase, which I take to my life: 'Go study, girl'.
"If today I managed to graduate, it was thanks to the encouragement I had from my great-grandmother."
In order for Gomes dos Reis to be confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the eldest person in the world, her family would have to hand over legal documents as proof and pay 4,000 Brazilian reais (roughly $800).
If her age is officially verified, Gomes dos Reis would take over the crown from Randon, who was born on 11 February 1904.
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