An Ohio couple, Lindsey and Tim Pierce, recently celebrated the birth of their son, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, from an embryo that had been cryopreserved for nearly 31 years. Born last week, Thaddeus's arrival marks a new record for the longest-frozen embryo to result in a live birth, underscoring advancements in reproductive technology and the growing practice of embryo adoption. The successful transfer procedure took place at Rejoice Fertility in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Dr. John David Gordon, who oversaw the transfer at Rejoice Fertility, confirmed that the embryo had been frozen for an unprecedented 11,148 days. This new milestone surpasses the previous record, also facilitated by Dr. Gordon's clinic, which saw the birth of twins Lydia and Timothy Ridgeway from embryos frozen for 30 years. "I think that these stories catch the imagination," Dr. Gordon stated, highlighting the unique nature of such births.
The embryo that became Thaddeus was originally created and frozen in 1994 by Linda Archerd, 62, who later donated it through the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program. Archerd had maintained the embryo in storage for decades before deciding to donate it, with a preference for a white, Christian married couple. The Pierces received three donated embryos from Archerd, with one successfully implanting after thawing and transfer.
Embryo adoption, a process that allows couples to adopt embryos that would otherwise remain in storage or be discarded, is gaining increasing attention. Medical experts estimate approximately 1.5 million frozen embryos are currently stored across the United States. Clinics like Rejoice Fertility are notable for their policy of refusing to discard frozen embryos, often catering to individuals and couples who view all embryos as deserving of a chance at life.
Lindsey and Tim Pierce expressed their focus was not on setting a record but on fulfilling their desire to have a child after years of battling infertility. "We didn’t go into this thinking about records — we just wanted to have a baby," Lindsey Pierce said. Their journey highlights the emotional and personal significance of embryo adoption, offering hope to many facing similar challenges.