
On July 26, 2025, a baby boy named Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born in Ohio, making headlines as the oldest known baby ever born from a frozen embryo. His embryo was cryopreserved in May 1994, meaning it remained frozen for over 30 years — a record-breaking 11,148 days in storage.
The Backstory
- Original Donor: Linda Archerd, who underwent IVF in 1994 and froze four embryos.
- One embryo was used immediately, resulting in a daughter born in 1994.
- The remaining three embryos were stored for decades, with Archerd paying ~$1,000 annually to preserve them.
- In 2023, she donated them through the Snowflakes program by Nightlight Christian Adoptions.
The Adoptive Parents
- Lindsey and Tim Pierce, a couple from London, Ohio, had been trying to conceive for seven years.
- They adopted one of Archerd’s embryos, which was successfully implanted and led to the birth of Thaddeus.
- Lindsey shared: “We didn’t go into it thinking we would break any records. We just wanted to have a baby.”
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| Lindsey and Tim Pierce at Rejoice Fertility. (Image - MIT Technology Review) |
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| The Baby |
Scientific & Ethical Implications
- Medical Breakthrough: Embryos can remain viable for decades if properly preserved.
- Ethical Questions: Raises concerns about the fate of millions of unused embryos globally.
- Legal Landscape: In the U.S., embryos can be stored indefinitely, unlike countries like Australia (5 years) or the UK (55 years).
Embryo Storage Comparison
| Country | Storage Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Indefinite | No federal limit; varies by state and clinic |
| Australia | 5 years | Extensions possible with approval |
| United Kingdom | 55 years | Extended from 10 years in 2022 |
Internet Reactions
- “Robbed of the 90s.”
- “So that’s how you get 30 years of experience before you start a job.”
- “Defrosting humans like leftovers and calling it a miracle.”


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