On July 26, 2025, Ohio, USA, a boy namedThaddeus Daniel Piercewho is namedThe oldest child in the worldHis remarkable story is that he was born of an embryo, which was stored in frozen condition as far above30 years.
How is that possible?
The embryo was initially frozen in1994during an in vitro procedure performed in Linda Archerd and her husband, who had long sought a child.
During the first procedure, their daughter was born, but the three remaining embryos were cryogenically preserved. After Linda's divorce, who was granted the right to embryos, she paid for many years to store them with the hope of another pregnancy. After undergoing menopause and considering various options, she decided to donate embryos for adoption through the Christian adoption agency NightLight Christian Adoptions.
The embryo of Thaddeus adopted the Christian marriage of Lindsey and Tim Pierce, who could thus become parents after years of trying to have a child. Thaddeus was born healthy and strong, and this event is considered historic, as it is the oldest known case of the birth of a child from so long frozen embryo.
Thaddeus also has a 30 - year - old biological sister and family who happily welcomed his birth.
A Similar History
Molly Gibson of Tennessee was born in 2020 of an embryo frozen in 1992, making it the oldest child born of such a long-keeping embryo. Molly broke her older sister Emma's record, which also came into the world thanks to an embryo held for 25 years.
Such situations show tremendous progress in reproductive medicine, which allows the safe storage of embryos for decades and subsequent birth of healthy children.
