A couple is suing a Florida fertility clinic after the wrong embryo was implanted, and is asking for help finding their daughter’s biological parents.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills posted on social media asking for prayers as they go through “this deeply confusing and painful time” with their daughter Shea, who was born on December 11. They also expressed an “unbearable” fear that their daughter could be taken from them at any time.
“There are a million things I want to say and a lot of emotions I wish I could share, but for now, this is what we can tell you: Due to a medical error—the doctor implanted the wrong embryo—Shay is not genetically related to either Steve or me,” Sco wrote. “While we are extremely grateful for Shay’s presence in our lives and love her infinitely, we also recognize that we have a moral obligation to find her biological parents.”
The post went on to acknowledge that the case has the potential to have many potential outcomes. While they did file a final request, they may not comment further until legal counsel has an update.
“If you have any information about families who may be on the other side, please contact us,” Score wrote.
How a Florida couple learned a fertility clinic implanted them with the wrong embryos
Questions were raised after Scoo gave birth to the baby from an emergency C-section and baby Shay appeared to be of a different race than Scoo and Mills, who are both white.
Tests confirmed the baby was “not genetically related to any of the plaintiffs,” according to the lawsuit filed this month in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
The couple underwent in vitro fertilization treatment at IVF Life, Inc. D/B/A Fertility Center in Orlando. Three viable embryos were created using their sperm and eggs.
In March 2025, Score was implanted with an embryo and Shea was born. Score wrote that despite the mix-up, a “healthy baby girl was born and we love her beyond words.”
GoFundMe account set up to assist Florida couple with IVF embryo mix-up
Score’s sister set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for “substantial medical expenses, including previous IVF costs, hospital bills and mental health treatment.”
Funds raised will also support efforts to find Shay’s baby’s biological family and to find Scoo and Mills’ genetic embryos, “which may or may not still exist.” The couple also hopes to retrieve Scoo’s eggs, which were frozen at another clinic seven years ago, a process that could cost thousands of dollars.
Score’s sister, Alexa Score, wrote: “The emotional trauma caused by this situation is beyond comprehension: desperately wanting to celebrate the birth of a miracle on one hand, while grappling with utter shock and confusion on the other.” “Not to mention, not being able to talk to family and friends about their grief. This complicated situation raises 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 a living child in this world? The possibilities are hard to imagine.”
Orlando Fertility Center Says Wrong Embryos Are Given to Patients
The center, located in Longwood, about 30 miles north of Orlando, offers a variety of fertility services, including testing, egg donation and help with male infertility.
Calls from the USA TODAY Network to the clinic were not 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 they are not genetically related to,” the statement said. “This process involves multiple entities and all parties are working diligently to help determine when and where the error may have occurred. Our top priority remains transparency and the well-being of the patients and children involved. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, we will continue to assist in any way we can.”
Michelle Spitzer is a Florida reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK. As a rapid response reporter for the network, she covers breaking news in Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida couple searches for baby’s genetic parents after embryo mix-up
