Baby Born From 1994 Frozen Embryo Sets New Longevity Record

Overview

• Thaddeus Daniel Pierce was born on July 26, 2025 from an embryo created in 1994 that was preserved in liquid nitrogen at roughly −196°C for more than three decades.
• Lindsey and Tim Pierce of Ohio received the embryo through the Open Hearts program under an open donation arrangement with biological donor Linda, who lives in Oregon and hopes to meet the family.
• Embryologist Sarah Coe Atkinson thawed the slow‑frozen embryo in a 35°C water bath, cultured it for about a week, and performed a roughly 10‑minute transfer, with pregnancy confirmed two weeks later.
• Coverage cites the case as the oldest embryo to result in a live birth, with Thaddeus’s biological sister Amanda born from the same 1994 IVF cohort.
• Experts highlight an estimated 1.5 million embryos in U.S. storage and the lack of comprehensive federal limits on embryo creation or long‑term disposition.