Latest news with #RejoiceFertility
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ohio couple welcomes baby born from embryo frozen 31 years ago
An Ohio couple has given birth to a baby boy developed from an embryo that had been frozen for more than 30 years, which their doctor believes may be the longest-known storage time before a successful birth. Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who struggled with infertility for years, turned to embryo adoption in hopes of starting a family. As per CNN, they welcomed a son born from an embryo that had been frozen for 11,148 days. According to Dr. John Gordon of Rejoice Fertility in Knoxville, Tennessee, who oversaw the procedure, that storage time appears to set a new record. What is embryo adoption? Embryo adoption is a process in which individuals or couples adopt donated embryos left over from another couple's in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Unlike traditional adoption, it allows the adoptive mother to carry and give birth to a genetically unrelated child. Although the concept dates back to the 1990s, it remains relatively rare. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2% of all U.S. births are the result of IVF, and only a small portion of those involve donated embryos. Medical experts estimate that around 1.5 million frozen embryos are currently stored across the country, many in limbo, awaiting a decision from their genetic parents. Some fertility clinics and advocacy groups, particularly Christian-based organizations, have become vocal opponents of discarding frozen embryos, citing a belief that life begins at conception. Among them is Snowflakes Embryo Adoption, a program under Nightlight Christian Adoptions that connects embryo donors and adoptive families. 'These little embryos deserved to live.' Linda Archerd, 62, is the woman who donated the embryos that led to the Pierces' baby. Speaking with The Associated Press, she said, 'I felt all along that these three little hopes, these little embryos, deserved to live just like my daughter did.' Archerd turned to IVF back in 1994. At the time, techniques for freezing, thawing, and transferring embryos were gaining traction and offering hopeful parents more chances at successful pregnancy. She ended up with four embryos but only used one after giving birth to a daughter. Following a divorce, her plans for more children shifted. As decades passed, Archerd said she wrestled with the decision of what to do with the remaining embryos. Storage fees mounted, and the emotional toll weighed heavy. Eventually, she discovered Snowflakes, which helped facilitate an open donation. 'I wanted to be a part of this baby's life,' she said. 'And I wanted to know the adopting parents.' The process wasn't easy. Archerd had to track down her original fertility doctor in Oregon and navigate paper records to prepare the embryos for donation. The embryos were then shipped to Rejoice Fertility in Tennessee — a clinic known for its refusal to discard embryos, even those stored in older and outdated containers. Delicate transfer Of the three embryos Archerd donated, one did not survive the thawing process. The remaining two were transferred into Lindsey Pierce's uterus, and one successfully implanted. Following the birth, Lindsey and Tim Pierce issued a statement through: 'We didn't go into this thinking about records — we just wanted to have a baby.' For Archerd, the outcome has been bittersweet. 'I'm hoping that they're going to send pictures,' she said. 'I'd love to meet them some day. That would be a dream come true to meet — meet them and the baby.' So far, the Pierces have sent several photos since the birth. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
02-08-2025
- Health
- India Today
How a 30-year-old frozen embryo became the world's oldest baby
A medical feat has made headlines around the world as a healthy baby boy was born in the US, using an embryo that had been frozen for over three to be the longest-known interval between embryo freezing and birth, this event not only showcases the advances in fertility science but also opens up fresh possibilities for couples struggling with embryo, originally frozen in 1992, along with three others, by Linda Archerd, had remained in deep freeze. The original donors undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in 1994, didn't use all of them, and instead of discarding the remaining embryos, they chose to donate them for use by other many years, those embryos stayed in frozen storage. Then, in 2023, a different couple, Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who had difficulty conceiving on their own, chose to receive one of those donated carefully thawed the embryo and transferred it into the new mother's uterus, at Rejoice Fertility, a Christian non-profit IVF centre based in Tennessee that facilitates embryo adoption. The embryo was implanted successfully, and months later, a healthy baby, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, was born - now being called the world's oldest baby. The story raises an important question: can an embryo that's been frozen for so long truly result in a healthy child? We spoke to IVF specialists to understand the procedure and how this medical advancement takes to experts, yes. The key lies in how well the embryo was preserved over the years and the integrity of the storage conditions.'An embryo frozen 30 years ago can still result in a healthy pregnancy, thanks to advancements in cryopreservation—especially vitrification. At this ultra-low temperature, all cellular activity comes to a standstill, which prevents any degradation or ageing, " Dr. Jyoti Tripathi, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Indore, is no biological 'expiry date' for embryos as long as they are kept under ideal conditions.'Medically, embryos can be preserved for decades without risk. What matters is maintaining consistent storage conditions. In India, however, the ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) law allows storage for up to 10 years, after which renewed consent is required," Dr. Tripathi successful birth proves that time doesn't necessarily diminish the viability of a frozen embryo, as long as all scientific protocols are carefully egg or sperm donation, embryo donation allows the receiving mother to carry the pregnancy herself, creating a powerful emotional connection. It also presents a more affordable path for many families.'Embryo donation is not only emotionally fulfilling but also less financially burdensome. Using surplus cryopreserved embryos costs much less than undergoing a fresh IVF cycle. For couples in countries like India, where affordability is often a concern, this makes a big difference," Dr. Bhavana Girish, IVF Specialist at Motherhood Fertility & IVF in Bangalore, also addresses concerns about health risks: 'There are no added risks to the baby or mother just because the embryo is older. Freezing essentially pauses time. Whether it's five months or 30 years old, once thawed, the embryo behaves the same.'The birth of this baby girl symbolises more than just a medical achievement as it represents a shift in how we understand time, biology, and the possibilities of parenthood.'Embryos are not just cells,' says Dr. Tripathi. 'They are potential life. That's why every clinic has ethical and legal responsibilities around their storage and use. But from a purely medical standpoint, time doesn't reduce their potential.'This landmark birth is a reminder that advances in reproductive medicine are constantly pushing was once a frozen cell in 1992 is now a thriving child in 2025. It's a scientific miracle, and a message of hope.- Ends advertisement
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
World's oldest baby: This newborn was frozen in time for 30 years
A little boy named Thaddeus Daniel Pierce has made medical history simply by being born. He wasn't just any baby, Thaddeus came from an embryo created over 30 years ago, back in 1994. Born on July 26, 2024, in Ohio, this tiny miracle is now believed to be the world's 'oldest' baby, not in age, but in origin. In the early '90s, Linda Archerd had been trying to have a child for six long years. IVF (in vitro fertilisation) was a relatively new and generally misunderstood option back then. Still, she gave it a try and ended up with four embryos. One brought her a baby girl. The remaining three were cryopreserved and stored in a tank, tiny hopes frozen in time. Decades passed. Linda's daughter grew up, had her own child, and Linda herself entered menopause. But the embryos stayed put, carefully preserved in cold storage, each year costing her around $1,000. Why these embryos weren't forgotten Linda didn't want to discard the embryos or donate them to anonymous families or research. To her, they were deeply personal, DNA siblings to her daughter. She called them 'my three little hopes.' So, even as time passed, she looked for a path that would feel right. Eventually, she discovered a program called Snowflakes, which facilitates embryo adoption in a way that lets both parties remain in contact. For Linda, who is Christian, this model offered the emotional clarity she needed; she could choose the parents, meet them, and someday, maybe even meet the baby. The Pierce family: Hope after years of struggles Tim and Lindsey Pierce, a couple from Ohio, had been trying for a baby for seven years. Their journey was filled with multiple doctor visits and disappointment. While researching traditional child adoption, Lindsey stumbled upon the Snowflakes program, and something about it clicked. The couple had no restrictions, they were open to receiving any embryo, regardless of age or background. And that's how they were matched with Linda's embryos, created long before either of them had even finished school. Representative image Reviving a 30-year-old embryo isn't as easy as warming it up. In the early days of IVF, embryos were slow-frozen, which often created ice crystals that could harm the cells. Today, vitrification, a faster and safer method, is preferred. Thaddeus's embryo was stored in a plastic vial using the older technique. Thawing it was tricky. Sarah Atkinson, the embryologist at Rejoice Fertility, had to use specialised tools, protective gear, and intense precision to avoid damage. Despite all odds, all three embryos survived the thaw, a near-miracle in scientific terms. Two embryos were transferred to Lindsey's uterus. One continued to grow and became baby Thaddeus. His genetic mother, Linda, was overjoyed. She saw photos of the baby and couldn't help but notice the resemblance to her own daughter as a newborn. There's no official meeting planned yet between Linda and baby Thaddeus, but she calls the thought of meeting him 'a dream come true.' While Thaddeus's arrival is extraordinary, he joins a small but fascinating group of babies born under truly unique circumstances. In India, a 74-year-old woman named Erramatti Mangayamma gave birth to twin girls through IVF in 2019, making headlines as the world's oldest new mother. In Greece, a baby was born in 2019 using a groundbreaking technique called maternal spindle transfer, which involved DNA from three people, two women and a man, to help overcome fertility issues. These stories, like Thaddeus's, show how science continues to reshape the boundaries of what's possible in the world of birth and parenting. This article is based on facts reported by MIT Technology Review and is written purely for educational and awareness purposes. It does not endorse or promote any medical practice or religious viewpoint.
Perth Now
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
World's oldest baby has been born
A baby boy has been named the "world's oldest baby" after he was born from an embryo that was frozen in 1994 and "adopted" 30 years later. Lindsey, 35, and Tim Pierce are the parents of Thaddeus Daniel Pierce - who was born on July 26. Thaddeus' arrival came after the Ohio, USA, couple struggled to conceive for eight years, and chose to "adopt" an embryo. And in May 1994, their embryo was created when Linda Archerd, 62, and her ex-husband underwent in vitro fertilisation (IVF) because they also had difficulty conceiving naturally. Linda and her ex-husband produced four embryos, with one resulting in the birth of their daughter, 30, and the other three were frozen in case they wanted to add to their brood. After the couple split, Linda was awarded custody of the embryos and she later put them up for adoption because Linda felt "it was the right thing to do". Linda gave them to Nightlight Christian Adoptions - a Christian embryo adoption agency - and because the embryos were considered "hard to place", they were placed under its Snowflakes' Open Hearts scheme. And years later, Lindsey and Tim applied for the Snowflakes' Open Hears Scheme, and their dream of becoming parents became a reality following IVF. Lindsey - who had the embryo implanted by the Rejoice Fertility clinic in Tennessee, USA, is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper as saying: "We are in awe that we have this precious baby. "We had a rough birth, but we're both doing well now."
