Imagine a newborn who has been “on pause” since before either parent was born—until recently. This is reality.
A Medical Miracle—and a Record
On July 26, 2025, Lindsey and Tim Pierce of Ohio welcomed their son, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, into the world—born from an embryo that had been cryopreserved since May 1994, over 30 years ago. This marks a new world record for the longest-stored embryo to result in a live birth.
The embryo originated from Lydia Archerd and her then-husband. One embryo out of the batch led to the birth of their daughter in 1994, who today is a mother herself. The remaining embryos were stored until Lydia donated them via the Nightlight Christian Adoptions’ “Open Hearts” embryo adoption program in 2022.
Thaddeus physically arrived three decades later, embodying decades of hope and technological advance. “We just wanted a baby,” Lindsey shared, acknowledging that they never expected to break records.
Why This Matters
Advancements in Cryopreservation
This isn’t an isolated feat. Prior successful births from 27- or 30-year-old embryos demonstrate the durability of cryopreservation when done under ideal conditions.
A comprehensive study of over 11,000 human embryos found that storage duration did not significantly impact survival, implantation, or live birth rates. The key predictive factors remained the age of the oocyte, survival rate post-thaw, and number of embryos transferred.
Ethical and Scientific Reflections
The Significance of Embryo Adoption
Embryo adoption provides a unique path to parenthood for couples struggling with infertility, while giving stored embryos a second chance. In Thaddeus’s case, it represents decades of waiting, both biologically and emotionally, finally fulfilled.
The Science Behind Cryopreservation
The case reinforces the scientific community’s understanding that long-term embryo storage does not significantly impact viability, assuming proper cryogenic techniques are followed.
- Advances in vitrification, storage systems, and thawing protocols have made it possible for embryos to remain suspended in time for decades without cellular degradation.
- While the age of the egg donor is still the biggest factor in success, storage duration is proving less consequential than once feared.
What This Means for the IVF World
Thaddeus’s birth represents more than scientific capability — it underscores the expanding timeline of human potential. It opens the door for:
- Embryo adoption as a mainstream fertility option
- Future discussions around storage ethics and intergenerational conception
- Increased global trust in cryopreservation as a reliable path to parenthood
Ready to Dive Deeper into the Science of Fertility?
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