The world’s oldest baby born from a frozen embryo has arrived. Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26, 2025 in Ohio, from an embryo originally frozen in 1994, marking a record-setting storage time of over 30 years before a successful live birth nypost
Behind the Record-Setting Birth
- The embryo’s journey: Initially created during IVF treatment for Linda Archerd and her husband in 1994, one embryo resulted in a daughter born the next year. The remaining three were stored until Archerd donated them years later through Nightlight Christian Adoptions
- Parents’ story: Lindsey and Tim Pierce, from London, Ohio, had struggled with infertility for seven years before adopting one of the embryos in 2024. They were surprised to learn the embryo was three decades old—but proceeded out of hope for a family
- Medical support: The transfer took place at Rejoice Fertility Clinic in Tennessee, which specializes in accepting older embryos—three got thawed, and one developed into Thaddeus
A Lineage of Longest‑Frozen Embryo Births
- Previous record-holders include the Ridgeway twins, Lydia and Timothy, born in 2022 from embryos frozen in April 1992—nearly 30 years of storage
- In 2020, Molly Gibson was born from an embryo frozen for 27 years—surpassing earlier limits and paving the way for extended cryopreservation records
Why This Birth Matters
- Cryopreservation reliability: Evidence shows that no negative health impact is associated with decades-long embryo storage. Extensive studies—including analysis of over 11,000 embryos—indicate storage duration does not affect survival or birth outcomes
- Ethical & emotional dimensions: Embryo adoption choices raise complex questions about consent, donor rights, and long-term storage policies—especially as IVF-generated embryo inventories grow globally
- Hope for infertile families: The story underlines the potential of embryo donation/adoption programs to offer parenthood opportunities even decades after fertilization.
Conclusion
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce’s birth from a frozen embryo conceived in 1994 not only breaks world records but also exemplifies profound advances in IVF and embryo cryopreservation. As the technology continues evolving—and ethical frameworks adapt—this historic event offers renewed hope and raises important dialogue about long-term embryo storage and family creation.
