WASHINGTON, July 31, 2025 – A baby has been born in the United States from an embryo frozen more than 30 years ago, setting what is believed to be a new world record for the longest-preserved embryo resulting in a live birth.
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born in Ohio to Lindsey and Tim Pierce after the couple adopted an embryo originally created in 1994. The embryo had been frozen in liquid nitrogen for over three decades before being thawed and implanted, resulting in a healthy birth. The previous record was held by an embryo frozen in 1992 that led to a birth in 2022.
The embryo was donated by Linda Archerd, who had created four embryos with her husband through in vitro fertilisation in 1994. One was used to conceive her daughter that same year. The remaining three were kept in storage, with Archerd continuing to pay annual storage fees for 30 years. She ultimately chose to donate one through the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program, run by Nightlight Christian Adoptions.
The Snowflakes program allows embryo donors to select recipient families based on shared values, including religion, ethnicity, and nationality. The Pierces were selected by Archerd, and following a successful embryo transfer, their son Thaddeus was born.
The case highlights the continuing advancement of assisted reproductive technologies and the long-term viability of frozen embryos. Experts say this birth demonstrates that embryos can remain viable for decades under proper storage conditions, raising both new possibilities for families and ethical considerations around embryo donation and preservation.