National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC)
Nov. 30, 2020
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 30, 2020 /Christian Newswire/
-- An East Tennessee baby whose birth was facilitated by the National
Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) has made history with her arrival. Molly
Everette Gibson, the daughter of Tina and Ben Gibson, spent more than 27
years as an embryo in frozen preservation, setting the new known record
for the longest-frozen embryo to ever come to birth, according to
research staff at the University of Tennessee Preston Medical Library.
Molly
was frozen on October 14, 1992. She was thawed by NEDC Lab Director
& Embryologist Carol Sommerfelt on February 10, 2020 and transferred
to Tina's uterus by NEDC President & Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey
Keenan on February 12, 2020. She was born October 26, 2020, weighing 6
lbs. 13 oz. and measuring 19 inches long.
What makes all of this
even more special is that Molly broke her own sister's record! Fellow
NEDC baby Emma Wren Gibson, born in 2017, had been frozen for more than
24 years, holding the known record for longest-frozen embryo to come to
birth until Molly's arrival. Both girls were frozen together as embryos
and are full genetic siblings.
"I think this is proof positive
that no embryo should ever be discarded, certainly not because it is
'old!'" said Dr. Keenan. "This is also a testament to the excellent
embryology work of Carol Sommerfelt. She is perhaps the preeminent
embryologist in the country when it comes to thawing frozen embryos. And
of course it's a testament to how good God is, and to His infinite
goodness and love."
"When Tina and Ben returned for their sibling
transfer, I was thrilled that the remaining two embryos from the donor
that resulted in Emma Wren's birth survived the thaw and developed into
two very good quality embryos for their transfer," said Sommerfelt. "It
was even more thrilling to learn 11 days later that Tina was pregnant. I
rejoiced with Tina and Ben as we all anxiously waited for the arrival
of their second child."
Sommerfelt added, "When Molly Everette
was born on October 26, she was already 28 years old from the standpoint
of the time the embryos had been frozen. This definitely reflects on
the technology used all those years ago and its ability to preserve the
embryos for future use under an indefinite time frame. It also shows
the reason the NEDC mission is so important, giving all donated embryos
the best chance for life."
The faith-based NEDC has gained
distinction as the world's leading comprehensive embryo adoption
program, with more births facilitated (more than 1,000) through embryo
adoption than any other organization or clinic. Its dual purpose is to
protect the lives and dignity of frozen embryos that would not be used
by their genetic parents and to help other couples build the families
they have longed for via donated embryos. Embryos have been donated to
the NEDC from all 50 states and couples have traveled to Knoxville from
all over the United States as well as some foreign countries for their
embryo transfers. Our website is www.embryodonation.org.
SOURCE National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC)
CONTACT: Mark Mellinger, 865-696-1870, mmell
Monday, November 30, 2020
Record Surpassed: Baby Born from Embryo Frozen for More Than 27 Years
