frozen embryos

Question from mav on 2/13/2008:  
Dear Judie, Firstly, thank you for your prompt answers and for your work. My husband has a family member who has 4 frozen embryos. These poor children are "leftovers" from IVF treatments that happened more than 6 years ago. She is divorcing, and is refusing to deal with this situation. We have been praying for these children. Recently, we thought our prayers were answered, because she received notification that the "clinic" that stores the babies is closing. They gave her the option of donating the babies to the Snowflake program. Well she refused, because "She couldn't stand the thought of her children with someone else." I feel very sad and desperate about this, as does my husband.

Dear Judie, Do you know if these poor babies have any chance of continuing their lives? Specifically, is there any information on how likely it is for these babies to be born, and to survive the process of implantation?

I feel that these poor babies have been sentenced to solitary confinement for 6 years, without the possibility of parole. This is so tragic, because they haven't committed any crime, they are innocent.

I thank you in advance for your help and for your prayers.
Answer by Judie Brown on 2/13/2008: 
Dear Mav

Many who work in this field have said that the likelihood of one of the frozen embryos surviving the process of placing the embryo into the mother so that the embryo can implant himself is not that good. On the other hand, there is no reason for them to be put to death when it is possible that each of them could survive.

I am sorry to read that your family member does not see the value in providing these embryonic children with the chance to continue living.

Judie Brown