The world’s media declared Thaddeus Daniel Pierce the “world’s oldest baby” after his birth via IVF from a 30-year-old frozen embryo, but his status as the oldest embryo carried to birth was merely part of the story.

In the ’90s, Thaddeus’ biological mother had one child via IVF and retained three frozen embryos, even fighting a legal battle to keep them after divorcing the father.

However, she never felt financially prepared to give birth again.

A Christian group called the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program then connected Thaddeus’ biological mother and his adoptive parents, leading to Thaddeus’ birth in July this year.