05/08/2025
"A New Life: Thaddeus, the Baby Frozen in Time "
Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, a baby boy, was born on July 26, 2025, from an embryo frozen in 1994, breaking the record for the longest-known gap between embryo freezing and live birth. Here's how it happened ¹:
- The Embryo's Journey: Linda Archerd and her husband created four embryos via IVF in 1994. One became her daughter, now 30, while the other three were frozen. After her divorce, Linda preserved the embryos, hoping to find the right parents.
- Embryo Adoption: Linda connected with Nightlight Christian Adoptions' Snowflakes program, where donors choose the adoptive parents. She selected a married, Caucasian, Christian couple in the US - Lindsey and Tim Pierce.
- The Pierces' Story: After seven years of battling infertility, the Pierces adopted the 30-year-old embryo. They weren't trying to break records; they just wanted a baby. The IVF transfer was done at Rejoice Fertility, a Tennessee-based clinic that accepts embryos regardless of age.
- Medical Significance: Thaddeus' birth marks a milestone in assisted reproduction. The previous record was held by twins born in 2022 from embryos frozen in 1992. Fertility clinics in the US are pushing IVF technology limits, raising questions about ethics and the fate of unclaimed frozen embryos.
- The Result: Thaddeus is alive and healthy, with a remarkable story. Linda Archerd sees striking similarities between him and her daughter, marveling at the miracle unfolding decades after his conception.'s