US Couple Welcomes Baby from 30-Year-Old Frozen Embryo

August 1, 2025 | 05:08 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A baby boy named Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born from an embryo that had been frozen for over 30 years. The baby, born in the United States, was adopted by Lindsey and Tim Pierce, a couple living in Ohio.

According to MIT Technology Review, as cited by Sky News, the embryo was originally created and frozen by Thaddeus’ biological mother in 1994. It was transferred into Lindsey’s uterus in November 2024, and Thaddeus was born on July 26, 2025.

At the time the embryo was created, Tim Pierce, Thaddeus’ adoptive father, was still a toddler. Thaddeus has a biological sister who is now 30 years old, as well as a niece who is 10.

Lindsey Pierce described Thaddeus as a happy and content baby.

“He is so chill. We are in awe that we have this precious baby,” she said.

Thaddeus’ adoption was arranged through a Christian embryo adoption agency, which connected his biological and adoptive families.

His biological parents had undergone IVF treatment in the 1990s and produced four viable embryos. Only one was implanted at the time, resulting in the birth of Thaddeus’ sister. The remaining embryos were frozen for future use.

Over time, the biological parents separated and the mother, Linda Archerd, entered menopause. She decided to consider other options for the remaining embryos.

Linda, a devout Christian, did not want to donate the embryos for scientific research or release them anonymously. Instead, she chose embryo adoption, which allowed her to participate in selecting the adoptive family. A Christian organization oversaw the adoption process.

Nightlight Christian Adoptions placed the embryos with Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who met Linda’s requirements of being a married, Caucasian, Christian couple.

Out of the three remaining embryos, one stopped growing. The other two were transferred into Lindsey’s uterus, with one successfully developing into Thaddeus. After his birth, Linda, now 62, noted the strong resemblance between Thaddeus and her daughter as a baby.

“The first thing that I noticed when Lindsey sent me his pictures is how much he looks like my daughter when she was a baby,” she said.

While other babies have been born from embryos that were 27 and 30 years old, such cases are uncommon due to the reluctance of many organizations to accept long-frozen embryos.

John Gordon, the IVF doctor who treated the Pierces and a fellow Christian, founded the Rejoice Fertility Clinic in part to address the growing number of embryos stored in freezers.

Globally, millions of embryos remain frozen as a result of IVF procedures, which typically produce more embryos than can be implanted.

Editor's Choice: Indonesia Deepens Science and Technology Diplomacy with Australia

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

US Imposes "Largest" Sanctions on Iran-Linked Shipping Empire

19 jam lalu

Trump Announces South Korea Will Pay 15 Percent Tariffs

1 hari lalu

Trump Hits Brazil With 50 Percent Tariffs Over Jair Bolsonaro Trial

1 hari lalu

As US Warms Up to Pakistan, India Must Refashion Diplomacy

2 hari lalu

Thailand, Cambodia Ready to Discuss Ceasefire After Trump's Intervention

5 hari lalu

Indonesia Pushes for 0% Import Tariff from the US

8 hari lalu

List of 12 Points of the US-Indonesia Trade Agreement Framework

8 hari lalu

US Withdraws from UNESCO for the Third Time, Rejecting Palestine Membership

9 hari lalu

Trump Reveals New 15 Percent Tariff on Japanese Imports

9 hari lalu

Bengali-speaking Indian Migrants Face Hurdles to Avoid Deportation to Bangladesh

9 hari lalu