Molly makes baby history: ‘thawed’ embryo from 1992 at Farragut’s NED Center
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Held lovingly by big sister, Emma Wren, Molly Everette Gibson was born Oct. 26, setting a world record for a thawed embryo resulting in successful birth — originally frozen in October 1992. - Photo courtesy of Haleigh Crabtree Photography
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Tina and Beth Gibson pose with their children, Emma Wren, 3, and newborn Molly Everette. Both children set records as respectively being the oldest successful embryo implants resulting in live birth, with both occurring thanks to the efforts of the National Embryo Donation Center in Farragut. - Photo courtesy of Haleigh Crabtree Photography
Just weeks after setting a world record of facilitating its 1,000th birth, Farragut’s National Embryo Donation Center has made history yet again by overseeing the birth of a child frozen as an embryo nearly 30 years ago.
Molly Everette Gibson was born Oct. 26 to parents Tina and Ben Gibson, having been implanted at NEDC in February. She was initially frozen as an embryo Oct. 14, 1992. She joins big sister, Emma Wren Gibson, who was born in 2017, but had been frozen alongside her sister as embryos, making them full genetic siblings, noted a press release from NEDC.
“I think this is proof positive that no embryo should ever be discarded, certainly not because it is ‘old,’” said Dr. Jeffrey Keenan, NED president and medical director. “This is also a testament to the excellent embryology work of Carol Sommerfelt,” who had thawed the embryo Feb. 10 for Keenan to implant Feb. 12. “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.”
Molly actually broke Emma Wren’s record, as the older sibling previously held the world record for the longest-frozen embryo resulting in successful birth.
“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,” Sommerfelt stated in a press release. “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.
“When Molly Everette was born on Oct. 26, she was already 28 years old from the standpoint of the time the embryos had been frozen,” he added. “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 sought.
For more information, visit www.embryodonation.org.
