Baby Born From 27 Year Old Frozen Embryo Shatters Record Held by Older Sister

TENNESSEE (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – A Tennessee couple who just recently welcomed their second daughter to the world has given scientists a reason to party as well, the baby’s arrival marking the first time a nearly 30 year old embryo has ever been successfully frozen, thawed and implanted, culminating in a live birth.

CNN (https://cnn.it/2JzkLTI) reported that Tina Gibson gave birth to her six pound thirteen ounce daughter Molly at the end of October. Having been frozen as an embryo 27 years ago, Molly’s birth is believed to have shattered the previously held record for the longest frozen embryo known to be born, which belonged to her oldest sister, Emma, now three years old.

Both Molly and Emma were born with the help of the National Embryo Donation Center in Knoxville, a faith-based program that facilitates embryo adoption by accepting donations of frozen embryos that aren’t being used by their parents. 1,012 babies have been born through NEDC’s efforts since its inception in 2013.

Gibson admitted that she had her doubts about the viability of using a 24 year old embryo in 2017, her doubts vanishing when Emma was born.

“This embryo and I could have been best friends,” the then-26 year old Tina told CNN (https://cnn.it/39BhjTq) after Emma’s arrival.

Tina and her husband Ben were married in 2010, Ben’s cystic fibrosis hampering their efforts to have children. The couple fostered several children before Tina’s father told them about a news story he had seen about embryo adoption. At the time, the couple had their hands full with their work as foster parents, but the two warmed to the idea of having a “snowbaby,” a term used for the frozen potential of human life, waiting to be brought into the world.

The Gibsons knew that Emma was one of three embryos donated to NEDC by the same couple. When they decided it was time to grow their family, they selected one of her siblings for implantation and the two girls are full genetic sisters. The Gibsons still find themselves overwhelmed by their new reality, the novelty of breaking two embryology records paling by comparison next to the knowledge that they have become a family of four.

“Every single day, my husband and I talk about it,” said Gibson. “We’re always like, ‘Can you believe we have not one little girl, but two little girls? Can you believe we’re parents to multiple children?'”

NEDC president and medical director Dr. Jeffrey Keenan, said that Molly and Emma are proof that embryos are still viable even after years of freezing, reported NBC 12 (https://bit.ly/3mt7uut).

“I think this is proof positive that no embryo should ever be discarded, certainly not because it is ‘old!” said Dr. Keenan.

While Dr. Keenan praised NEDC’s lab director and embryologist for her efforts, he noted that the importance of recognizing a higher power for the birth of Molly and Emma.

“It’s a testament to how good God is, and to His infinite goodness and love,” said Dr. Keenan.