By Erewunmi Peace

In a medical milestone that has captivated the world, a baby boy born from an embryo frozen in 1994 was safely delivered on July 26, 2025 — setting a new world record for the longest-known embryo preservation before a live birth.

Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, the newborn at the center of this groundbreaking story, was born to Ohio couple Lindsey (35) and Tim Pierce (34) after a seven-year struggle with infertility. Their journey took a remarkable turn when they adopted a 30-year-old embryo through a faith-based U.S. adoption agency, Nightlight Christian Adoptions, under its Snowflakes program.

“We weren’t trying to make headlines. We just wanted to be parents,” Lindsey told MIT Technology Review.

A Journey That Began in 1994

Thaddeus’ embryo was created in 1994 through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) by Linda Archerd, then 32, and her husband. One of the four embryos created was implanted immediately, resulting in a daughter who is now 30 years old. The remaining three embryos were frozen — and remained in storage for three decades.

Over the years, Linda kept the embryos preserved, unwilling to discard or donate them anonymously.

“I always wanted to be involved. That baby would be my daughter’s biological sibling,” she said.

Eventually, she connected with Nightlight, where she was allowed to select the adoptive parents. She chose the Pierces based on shared values — a married, Christian, Caucasian couple living in the United States.

A Record-Breaking Birth

The embryo transfer took place in November 2024 at Rejoice Fertility, a Tennessee-based clinic known for accepting and implanting long-preserved embryos. Despite being frozen using outdated slow-freeze methods, the embryo survived — and developed into a healthy baby boy.

With his birth, Thaddeus officially surpasses the previous record held by twins born in 2022 from embryos frozen in 1992.

“There’s a clear resemblance between Thaddeus and my daughter,” Linda shared, even though she has not yet met the newborn.

Science, Family, and Faith Intertwined

The birth of Thaddeus highlights not only the advancements in cryopreservation but also the complex ethical and emotional dynamics surrounding embryo adoption. Experts affirm that frozen embryos, when preserved properly, can remain viable for decades without significant risk to implantation or birth outcomes.

For the Pierces, it’s a dream come true — and for Linda, it marks the conclusion of a 30-year chapter.

Final Thoughts

While baby Thaddeus may never fully grasp the long road that led to his arrival, his story is already inspiring countless others — and rewriting the boundaries of reproductive science.