KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The longest-known frozen human embryo to result in a successful birth has been born in Tennessee.
The baby girl, Emma Wren, was born to Tina and Benjamin Gibson.
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The young couple faced infertility for several years.
"I never thought I would be able to have pregnancy, and to have a baby, such a miracle, such a sweet, sweet miracle," Tina Gibson said.
At one time, they had considered traditional adoption, but decided to try frozen embryo transfer instead.
With the hopes of becoming parents, they went through the process at the National Embryo Donation Center in Knoxville.
The couple didn't know the embryo they had chosen was frozen for more than two decades, WATE reported.
That meant Tina Gibson, who is just 26 years old, was carrying an embryo conceived just one-and-a-half-years after her own birth.
"If this embryo had been born when it was supposed to ... we could have been best friends, that's been the going joke. I mean, it's just so crazy," Tina Gibson said.
Carol Sommerfelt, the lab director at the National Embryo Donation Center, says seeing this record-setting embryo result in a successful birth has proven technology and advancements over the years have worked.
"I say I see miracles happen every day," Sommerfelt said.
On average, the center transfers 120 to 150 embryos a year -- this one was the oldest.
But the Gibsons say they don't think for one second it was all a coincidence.
"I think it's just proof -- it's such a God thing, such a miracle I think she was chosen for us," Tina Gibson said. "I don't think we chose her. I think she was chosen for us."
Asked whether they might try again with the remaining two embryos -- Emma's sisters or brothers -- Tina Gibson said she's sure that in about a year, she'll be ready to try for another baby.