A baby boy has been born to an Ohio couple from an embryo frozen for over 30 years, setting a new world record.
Lindsey Pierce, 35, and her husband, Tim Pierce, 34, became parents to Thaddeus Daniel Pierce on Saturday, an event resembling “something from a sci-fi movie,” according to Ms. Pierce, who spoke with MIT Technology Review.
The birth is believed to represent the longest duration an embryo has been frozen before leading to a successful live birth, potentially breaking the previous record of twins born from embryos that were frozen in 1992 and welcomed in 2022.
The Pierces had spent seven years trying to conceive before opting to adopt an embryo created by Linda Archerd, 62, and her then-husband in 1994 through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Originally, Ms. Archerd had four embryos created: one used for her now-30-year-old daughter, while the remaining three were stored. Despite her divorce, Ms. Archerd chose not to dispose of the leftover embryos, donate them for research, or anonymously pass them to another family.
Ms. Archerd emphasized the importance of maintaining a connection with the resulting child, who would be related to her daughter.
Until recently, Ms. Archerd paid storage fees amounting to thousands of dollars annually, eventually locating a Christian embryo adoption agency called Nightlight Christian Adoptions. The agency runs a program known as Snowflakes, which many such agencies regard as saving lives.
This program allows donors to select a couple, indicating preferences regarding religion, race, and nationality. Ms. Archerd specified a preference for a married, Caucasian, Christian couple residing within the United States, avoiding an international adoption.
Ultimately, Ms. Archerd matched with the Pierces, who underwent the procedure at the Rejoice Fertility clinic in Tennessee. The clinic is committed to transferring any embryos it receives, irrespective of age or conditions.
Ms. Pierce mentioned that they were not aiming to break any records but simply “wanted to have a baby.”
Ms. Archerd has yet to meet the baby in person but remarked to MIT Technology Review that she could detect a familial resemblance with her daughter.
According to MIT Technology Review.
Source: Original article