Oregon: Twins born from embryos frozen 30 years ago

In what some experts consider to be the oldest case of frozen embryos giving rise to a live birth, an Oregon couple welcomed twins from embryos that were frozen 30 years ago. Philip and Rachel Ridgeway welcomed twins Lydia and Timothy on October 31 from embryos that were stored in liquid nitrogen on April 22, 1992. “It’s a tremendous blessing,” Rachel tells TODAY.

The act of removing embryos from one person and giving them to another is known as embryo donation. Sometimes, a procedure known as “embryo freezing” or “cryopreservation” is utilized to preserve and use the embryos. The Cleveland Clinic reports that, as shown in 2016 national data, the live birth rate per transfer for frozen embryos is 49%.

The Ridgeways, who have four other children between the ages of 8, 6, 3, and 1, may have set a record.

According to NBC News, Tennessee couple Tina and Ben Gibson welcomed their daughter Molly in 2020 as a result of a 27-year-old donated embryo, with assistance from the National Embryo Donation Center. According to NBC News, Molly’s sister Emma was created in 2017 from a 24-year-old frozen embryo. The Ridgeways weren’t deterred by the embryos’ age.

According to Rachel, “We wanted to locate those embryos that have been waiting for the longest and have been passed over numerous times.” They reportedly asked, “Who needs to be picked out?”

When asked about the time when their children’s embryos were placed in storage, Philip replies,  “I was 5 years old when God gave life to these embryos.” It’s just mind-blowing to think that God was giving life to twins somewhere else at the same time,” he continues.

“I was 3-and-a-half,” notes Rachel. “It’s pretty amazing just knowing that they were created then and have waited that long for us to be able to parent them.” The couple explained how the siblings were created for the other kids.

According to Philip, “We’ve been extremely open and forthright with them about the entire process. They’ve been supporting us and praying with us. They’ve also been excited and looking forward to seeing us.” The couple expresses their gratitude for having their family complete. Rachel says, “Extremely blessed—tired, but very blessed. It’s pretty amazing.”

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