He\’s the \”oldest\” baby ever born… and his parents have some explaining to do 😶

Tim and Lindsey Pierce have made history with the birth of their son, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, on July 26. What makes this arrival extraordinary is that Thaddeus was born from an embryo frozen for over 30 years—the longest known successful embryo freeze in the world. Remarkably, Tim and Lindsey were toddlers when the embryo was first created.

The story began in 1994 with Linda Archerd, now 62, who underwent IVF and created four embryos. One resulted in her daughter, while the remaining three—nicknamed the “three little hopes”—were frozen for decades. After reaching menopause and separating from her husband, Linda decided to donate the embryos. Though several clinics initially rejected them due to their age, they were eventually accepted into a program for hard-to-match embryos.

Struggling to conceive, Tim and Lindsey were matched with Linda’s embryo through Nightlight Christian Adoptions’ Open Hearts program. “We explored adoption and discovered the Snowflakes embryo adoption program. We thought, ‘why not?’ It’s faster and more affordable than other options,” Lindsey said. Within two years, Thaddeus arrived, and Lindsey described the experience as “like something from a sci-fi movie.”

Thaddeus’s birth broke the record for the longest-frozen embryo to result in a live birth, surpassing the previous record set by twins born from 1992 embryos. Tim and Lindsey plan to share Thaddeus’s remarkable story with him as he grows, gradually explaining his unique beginnings and introducing him to Linda.

Beyond celebrating a record-breaking arrival, the couple hopes to inspire other families facing fertility challenges. “Don’t give up hope. It may not look the way you expect, but there is always hope,” Lindsey said. Thaddeus’s birth stands as a testament to the power of science, patience, and love—even decades in the making.