A couple is suing a Florida fertility clinic afterthey were implanted with the wrong embryo, and asking for help locating their daughter's biological parents.
Tiffany Score and Steven Millsmade a social media postasking for prayers as they navigate "this deeply confusing and painful time" with their daughter Shea, born December 11. They also expressed "unbearable" fear that their daughter might be taken from them at any time.
"I have a million things I want to say and so many emotions I wish I could share, but for now, this is what we are able to tell you: due to a medical error — the wrong embryo implanted by the doctor — Shea is not genetically related to either Steve or me," Score wrote. "While we are profoundly grateful to have Shea in our lives and love her immeasurably, we also recognize that we have a moral obligation to find her genetic parents."
The post went on to acknowledge this case has the potential for many potential outcomes. They likely will not comment further until their legal counsel has an update, although they did have a final request.
"If you have any information on the family who might be at the other side of this, please contact us," Score wrote.
How a Florida couple knew a fertility clinic implanted them with the wrong embryo
Questions were raised after Score gave birth from an emergency c-section and baby Shea looked to be a different race than Score and Mills, who are white.
Testing confirmed the baby had "no genetic relationship to either of the Plaintiffs,"according to the lawsuit filedthis month in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
The couple underwent in vitro fertilization treatment at IVF Life, Inc. D/B/AFertility Center of Orlando.Three viable embryos were created using their sperm and eggs.
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In March 2025, Score was implanted with an embryo, which resulted in Shea's birth. Score wrote despite the mix up, it resulted in a "healthy baby girl whom we love more than words can express."
GoFundMe account set up to assist Florida couple in IVF embryo mix-up
Score's sisterestablished a GoFundMe account to help cover"extensive medical expenses, including prior IVF costs, hospital bills, and mental health therapies."
Money raised also will support efforts to locate baby Shea's biological family and to find Score and Mills' genetic embryos, "which may or may not still exist." The couple also is hoping to retrieve Score's eggs that were frozen at a different clinic seven years ago, a process that could cost thousands.
"The emotional trauma produced by such a scenario is impossible to comprehend: desperately wanting to celebrate the miracle that is birth while battling utter shock and confusion," Score's sister Alexa Score wrote. "Not to mention, being unable to talk to family and friends about their grief. This complex situation brings up multiple questions: Who and where are the baby's biological parents? Where are Tiffany and Steve's embryos? Were their embryos implanted into someone else? Do Tiffany and Steve have living breathing children in this world? The possibilities are hard to fathom."
What Fertility Center of Orlando said about giving a patient the wrong embryo
Located in Longwood, about 30 miles north of Orlando, the center offers various fertility services including testing, egg donation and help with male infertility.
Calls to the clinic from USA TODAY Network have not been returned. The clinic acknowledged the situation in a now-deleted statement on its website.
"We are actively cooperating with an investigation to support one of our patients in determining the source of an error that resulted in the birth of a child who is not genetically related to them," according to the statement. "Multiple entities are involved in this process, and all parties are working diligently to help identify when and where the error may have occurred. Our priority remains transparency and the well-being of the patient and child involved. We will continue to assist in any way that we can regardless of the outcome of the investigation."
Michelle Spitzeris a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network's Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida's breaking news.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Florida couple seeking baby's genetic parents following embryo mix-up
