Thaddeus, a baby boy born with permanent residency in the US, has received national media attention. He came into being from an embryo frozen for more than 30 years! His birth probably reset the record for the oldest baby in history. This title had belonged to American twins born in 2022 from embryos that had been frozen since 1992. Thaddeus’s extraordinary odyssey began when his biological parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, released their embryos through an embryo adoption agency. This was after seven painful years of trying to get pregnant.
Still, the embryo from which Thaddeus was born was indeed donated by Linda Archerd, who shared her astonishment at the experience. After the birth of her own daughter, Archerd still had three embryos remaining. She targeted the Pierce couple because they were a good fit with her courtroom preferences, especially their Christian religion.
A Journey of Hope and Faith
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce turned to an evangelical embryo adoption agency for help in having a family. After going through a number of obstacles on their journey to parenthood, they stayed optimistic along the way.
We certainly didn’t set out on this journey with the intention of setting records,” shared Mrs. Pierce. She wanted to reiterate that their priority was to be parents. The couple’s dedication paid off when they were matched with Archerd’s embryo, leading to the birth of Thaddeus.
Mr. Pierce echoed their concerns about the importance of keeping the embryos in the nation’s borders. He said, “I didn’t want them to go out of the country,” reflecting his desire for the embryos to be utilized in a manner aligned with his family’s values.
Breaking New Ground
Thaddeus’ birth is a remarkable milestone for his family, personally, but scientifically. The former record holder of the oldest embryo to result in a live birth were twins born in 2022. This miraculous pair of twins were made from embryos frozen as far back as 1992. Thaddeus was born from an embryo that had been frozen since 1992. His arrival is a testament to the recent breakthroughs in reproductive technology.
Elizabeth Button, vice president of Snowflakes, called the event historic. She described it as a beacon of hope for families struggling with infertility.
A Surreal Experience
Her Archerd went on to call the experience of donating her embryo “pretty surreal.” Of course, she was ecstatic that her decision led to the birth of Thaddeus. Once she started to read about the Pierce family and their values and hopes, she was immediately and deeply connected to them.
Archerd’s decision to donate was based on her hope that the embryos would grow up in a loving family. Her decision reflects the compassionate nature of embryo donation programs, which allow donors to select couples based on specific criteria.
Thaddeus, or “Teddy,” as he’s known, is the newest member of the extended Pierce family. He has a 30-year-old sister which provides even more depth to their family dynamic. Thaddeus and Mrs. Pierce are both said to be in a favorable condition after a trying ordeal, but are scarcely out of danger yet.
