The Fertility Institute Helps Save Hurricane Katrina’s Youngest Survivor

Noah was born from a frozen embryo rescued from our flooded clinic after Hurricane Katrina

The Daily Mail reported on a Louisiana couple whose frozen embryo was rescued from the flooded Fertility Institute of New Orleans (FINO) after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. Noah Benton Markham was born January 17, 2007, after FINO clinic staff members were able to protect the frozen embryos in their care by moving them to the third floor of the building before the city was engulfed with devastating floods from Katrina.

Dr. Sissy Sartor and the clinic’s lab director at the time led a team on a rescue expedition to the clinic once conditions were safe. They carefully placed the embryos, still protected by liquid nitrogen, in flat-bottomed boats for removal. They sent a video of the rescue to Noah’s soon-to-be-parents, Rebekah and Glen.

About nine months after Katrina, Rebekah and Glen decided they were ready to try for another baby with their rescued frozen embryo, and soon the couple’s second son, Noah, was delivered.

“With all of the uncertainty and life-altering changes that Katrina brought, I knew having another baby would add so much joy to our lives and ground our family in such a beautiful way.” – Rebakahh