In July 2025, a baby named Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born in Ohio from an embryo that had been frozen since 1994, making it the oldest known embryo to result in a successful birth. The embryo was created through IVF by Linda Archerd, who used one embryo to have a daughter and froze the remaining three. Decades later, after her divorce, Archerd chose to donate the embryos through an adoption process, selecting a white, Christian, married couple, Lindsey and Tim Pierce, as recipients. The embryo was transferred by Dr. John Gordon, a faith-driven fertility specialist who advocates for giving long-frozen embryos a chance at life. Despite a rough birth, both mother and baby are healthy, and Archerd noted a strong resemblance between Thaddeus and her daughter as infants. The case underscores the viability of long-term embryo storage, the emotional dimensions of embryo adoption, and the broader ethical and social questions surrounding assisted reproduction.
Reference:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/31/worlds-oldest-baby-born-embryo-frozen-1994-ivf
