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- We adopted an embryo that had been frozen for 30 1/2 years. Our record-breaking baby was born this summer. (businessinsider.com)
A ‘Sci-Fi’ Dream Come True: Ohio Baby Sets World Record After 30 Years as a Frozen Embryo
London, Ohio – Move over, science fiction blockbusters, because a real-life tale of remarkable timing and perseverance has unfolded right here in Ohio. Baby Thaddeus Pierce, born to Lindsey and Tim Pierce of London, Ohio, has officially broken a Guinness World Record, emerging from an embryo that was cryopreserved for more than three decades – 30 years and four months, to be exact.
The story, which his parents jokingly say sounds like something “straight out of a sci-fi or fantasy film,” began in May 1994, when Thaddeus was conceived in a lab. At that time, his mother, Lindsey, was just four years old, and his father, Tim, was three.
“We couldn’t stop laughing when a friend heard the story,” said Lindsey Pierce, a former preschool teacher. “It could also be a math puzzle! Our son spent about 11,150 days as a frozen embryo.”
A Record-Breaking Arrival
Thaddeus’s delivery on July 26, 2025, now stands as the world record for the longest-frozen human embryo to result in a live birth. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Timothy and Lydia Ridgeway of Vancouver, Washington, whose embryos were frozen for 29 years and nine months before their birth in 2022.
But for the Pierces, Thaddeus is far more than a statistic. He represents the long-awaited culmination of an eight-year journey filled with hope, disappointment, and unwavering faith. Lindsey, 35, and Tim, 34, who works in data management in Columbus, married in 2015 and quickly knew they wanted a family.
Years of Unexplained Infertility
Their path to parenthood, however, proved challenging. After trying to conceive in earnest for a year, they sought fertility tests, only to be met with the frustrating diagnosis of “unexplained infertility.”
“I was disappointed every month for two years,” Lindsey shared. “It was crushing to hear that friends and other members of the family were pregnant.” Despite the heartbreak, she eventually found joy in celebrating others’ pregnancies, believing it was part of a larger plan.
Initially, the couple dismissed in-vitro fertilization (IVF) due to the expense. However, in 2022, Lindsey stumbled upon a Christian-run embryo adoption agency in Knoxville, Tennessee, which stores embryos not used for pregnancy.
Embracing Embryo Adoption
Intrigued, the Pierces explored this new avenue. They were introduced to the “Open Hearts” program, which highlights embryos that are often overlooked, many of which were frozen decades ago when IVF was a newer technology.
For Lindsey and Tim, the age or ethnicity of an embryo was irrelevant. “The age of the embryo didn’t matter to us because we believe that these babies deserve to be born,” Lindsey explained.
After creating a portfolio detailing their journey, the couple was matched with two families. Their first transfer in December 2023, involving three embryos, sadly did not result in a pregnancy, leaving them devastated but determined.
Undeterred, they moved forward with embryos from a second family. The biological mother had undergone IVF in 1994, had a daughter, and then donated her three remaining embryos to the organization, now called The Nightlight Christian Adoptions agency.
A Blessing Arrives
In November 2024, Dr. John Gordon of Rejoice Fertility in Knoxville performed the transfer of two of these precious embryos.
While one failed to implant, the other took hold, and Lindsey was finally pregnant. “Tim and I were ecstatic,” she recalled.
The pregnancy was straightforward, culminating in Thaddeus’s natural birth. Weighing a healthy 10 pounds, he was welcomed into the world with immense gratitude. “I held him in my arms and thanked God for our blessing,” Lindsey said.
Now 11 weeks old, Thaddeus is a happy, healthy baby who enjoys jumping in his swing. The Pierces plan to meet his biological mother when he’s older and are already preparing to tell him the extraordinary story of his conception, complete with special books about donor embryos.
As for his world record, Lindsey is confident: “I’m sure he’ll be proud of his sci-fi history.” Their unique journey has not only brought them a beloved son but also a truly remarkable family story that inspires wonder and gratitude.