Embryo frozen for 24 years now a newborn for American couple

A 26-year-old woman, Tina Gibson, has given birth to a baby in Tennessee.

However, this wasn't your ordinary birth. This baby, which weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces at birth, had been transferred to Gibson's uterus after being frozen for 24 years — the longest an embryo has ever been frozen before resulting in a successful birth.

Gibson and her husband, Benjamin, welcomed baby Emma Wren at the National Embryo Donation Center, a faith-based organization in Knoxville in late November. The pair call the new birth a "sweet miracle," with Benjamin Gibson telling CBS in Baltimore, "I think she looks pretty perfect to have been frozen all those years ago."

Meet Emma Wren! She was born on November 25, 2017 after spending 24 years as a frozen embryo. #WATE



Full story:https://t.co/tsC5vOkX68 pic.twitter.com/2J57aG1kgP — Erin Barnett (@ErinBarnettNews) December 19, 2017

After being conceived by another couple, the embryo was frozen on October 14, 1992 — just a year and a half after Tina Gibson was born.

"The NEDC has been privileged to work with the Gibsons to help them realize their dreams of becoming parents," said Dr. Jeffrey Keenan, who conducted the transfer for the Gibsons. "We hope this story is a clarion call to all couples who have embryos in long-term storage to consider this life-affirming option for their embryos."

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

